 Conservatives do not believe any general purpose for government can be given, beyond “keeping the enterprise afloat”. This is not the substantive purpose of an enterprise association; rather, “keeping afloat” is the thin commonality of purpose that characterises a civil association. As Graham writes, “the only purpose [conservatives] are prepared to accept is too vague to determine any actual activity” (1986: 185); historical context determines the criteria of successful government.