The Vanishing Tradition: Perspectives on American Conservatism

Pennsylvania author Paul Gottfried has penned thirteen books and is a recognized political theorist and historian of political movements. He is the Raffensperger Professor of Humanities Emeritus at Elizabethtown College. For this anthology of ten essays on the subject of the changing face of conservatism, Paul has invited young critics whose contributions challenge, startle and encourage thought about conservatism.In his Introduction Paul states, ‘Two developments are critical for understanding the direction in which the conservative movement has gone, particularly since the 1980s. One is the rise of the neoconservatives as the dominant force within the movement…A group of influential journalists and fund-raisers who combined strong anti-Soviet feeling with fervent Zionist sympathies, the neoconservatives have enjoyed commending positions in conservative publications and foundations since the 1980s…The other development that would shape the movement, and one related to the neoconservative ascendancy, has been a growing flexibility on social questions. There are few, if any, social positions taken by the Left, whether on immigration or LGBT rights, that the conservative movement has not eventually incorporated. Conservative publicists have made these adjustments while promoting an activist foreign policy against countries depicted as human rights violators…’Jack Kerwick, a professor of philosophy, leads off the essays with BIG CONSERVATISM AND AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM, and in doing so provides some definition to the prominent words in this anthology: “According to the conventional wisdom, America is home to a great partisan divide, a seemingly unbridgeable chasm between conservatives on the right and liberals or progressives on the left. The Republican Party is the party of conservatism, or the Right, while the Democratic Party is the party of progressivism. We may safely assume that most Americans, irrespective of their political sympathies, subscribe to this understanding of their political universe. Its popularity notwithstanding, however, the conventional wisdom on this matter is mistaken – and profoundly so. In what follows, I show that “Big Conservatism,” or “the Big Con” – that is, the contemporary conservative movement with which nationally recognized media personalities in talk radio, cable news, and especially well-established and generously funded print publications are associated - is not really of the Right. This movement is ‘neoconservative.’ Neoconservatism, far from being a variant of conservatism is in fact a species of the ideological politics against which conservatism has traditionally defined itself.’The contributors are traditionalist conservatives concerned with freedom. The messages herein relate to the takeover of American conservatism by neoconservatives. These are thoughts and opinions by enlightened people who bring to light important ideological questions we all have, one being ‘who in the world is responsible for the presence of Trump as POTUS!’ Lively discussions that are rich in controversy, this is a major reference point for all – no matter the claimed Party label. Grady Harp, August 20I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book

6.5/10.Uneven essays, with two standouts, the best being 'Catholicism and Neoconservatism'. Will enumerate and rate separately later. Very 'Lite' compared to some of Gottfried's earlier work, the authors here consistently skewer Zionist Neoconservativism (aka Trotskyism with somewhat free markets) without offering any constructive project. If you still think neocons are conservatives or good for America, this book deserves a higher rating.

An excellent series of essays dealing with the changes, failures and futures of American(and Canadian to a lesser extent) Conservatism. Paul Gottfried has assembled an erudite and varied group of talented writers on the right, such as Keith Preston, Grant Havers, Hawley, Joseph Cotto and more who have each taken on interesting topics and delivered thought provoking insights.The individual pieces are so accessible and the perfect length, I know I will be returning to some of them in the future for reference.