Paleoconservatism

Terminology

The prefix paleo derives from the Greek root παλαιός (palaiós), meaning "ancient" or "old". It is somewhat tongue-in-cheek and refers to the paleoconservatives' claim to represent a more historic, authentic conservative tradition than that found in neoconservatism. Adherents of paleoconservatism often describe themselves simply as "paleo". Rich Lowry of National Review claims the prefix "is designed to obscure the fact that it is a recent ideological creation of post-Cold War politics".

Samuel T. Francis, Thomas Fleming, and some other paleoconservatives deemphasize the conservative part of the paleoconservative label, claiming they do not want the status quo preserved. Fleming and Paul Gottfried called such thinking "stupid tenacity" and described it as "a series of trenches dug in defense of last year's revolution". Francis defined authentic conservatism as "the survival and enhancement of a particular people and its institutionalized cultural expressions".

Ideology

Paleoconservatives support restrictions on immigration, decentralization, trade tariffs and protectionism, economic nationalism, isolationism, and a return to traditional conservative ideals relating to gender, race, sexuality, culture, and society.

Paleoconservatism differs from neoconservatism in opposing free trade and promoting republicanism. Paleoconservatives see neoconservatives as imperialists and themselves as defenders of the republic.

Paleoconservatives tend to oppose abortion, gay marriage, and LGBTQ rights.

By the start of the 21st century, the movement had begun to focus more on issues of race.

Human nature, tradition, and reason

Paleoconservatives believe tradition is a form of reason, rather than a competing force. Mel Bradford wrote that certain questions are settled before serious deliberation concerning a preferred course of conduct begins. This ethic is based on a "culture of families, linked by friendship, common enemies, and common projects",{{cite book |last=Bradford |first=M. E. |author-link=Mel Bradford |year=1990

Pat Buchanan argues that a good politician must "defend the moral order rooted in the Old and New Testament and Natural Law"—and that "the deepest problems in our society are not economic or political, but moral".

Southern traditionalism

According to historian Paul V. Murphy, paleoconservatives developed a focus on localism and states' rights. From the mid-1980s onward, Chronicles promoted a Southern traditionalist worldview focused on national identity, regional particularity, and skepticism of abstract theory and centralized power. According to Hague, Beirich, and Sebesta (2009), the anti-modernism of the paleoconservative movement defined the neo-Confederate movement of the 1980s and 1990s. During this time, notable paleoconservatives argued that desegregation, welfare, tolerance of gay rights, and church-state separation had been damaging to local communities, and that these issues had been imposed by federal legislation and think tanks. Paleoconservatives also claimed the Southern Agrarians, an early 20th century group of poets and writers famous for the literary manifesto I'll Take My Stand, as forebears in this regard.

Opposition to Israel

Paleoconservatives are generally critics of Israel and supporters of the Arab cause in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict; they have argued that supporting the country damages foreign relations with the Islamic world and American interests abroad. Buchanan has asserted that "Capitol Hill is Israeli-occupied territory". Russell Kirk argued that "Not seldom has it seemed ... as if some eminent Neoconservatives mistook Tel Aviv for the capital of the United States". During the Israel–Gaza War, paleoconservative Tucker Carlson argued Israel was guilty of war crimes, and that President Joe Biden's support of the country risked American complicity in the actions.

However, not all paleoconservatives are critics of Israel. Paul Gottfried for instance, who coined the term paleoconservative, has expressed a pro-Israel stance, and he views the rise in anti-Zionism following the October 7 attacks as part of a broader movement of anti-white sentiment in Western countries.

Notable people

Philosophers and scholars

• Russell Kirk (1918–1994)
• Mel Bradford (1934–1993)
• Paul Gottfried (born 1941)
• Clyde N. Wilson (born 1941)
• E. Christian Kopff (born 1946){{sfn|Ans ell|1998|p=34}}
• William S. Lind (born 1947)
• Curtis Yarvin (born 1973)

Commentators and columnists

• Robert Novak (1931–2009)
• Taki Theodoracopulos (born 1936)
• Pat Buchanan (born 1938), White House Communications Director (1985–1987), 1992 and 1996 Republican presidential candidate, 2000 Reform Party presidential nominee
• John Derbyshire (born 1945)
• Thomas Fleming (born 1945)
• Joseph Sobran (1946–2010)
• Peter Brimelow (born 1947)
• Samuel T. Francis (1947–2005)
• Steve Sailer (born 1958)
• Tucker Carlson (born 1969)

Donald Trump

Historian George Hawley states that, although influenced by paleoconservatism, Donald Trump is not a paleoconservative, but rather a nationalist and a right-wing populist. Hawley also argued in 2017 that paleoconservatism was an exhausted force in American politics, but that, for a time, it represented the most serious right-wing threat to the mainstream movement conservatism. Regardless of how Trump himself is categorized, others regard the movement known as Trumpism as supported by, if not a rebranding of, paleoconservatism. From this view, the followers of the Old Right did not fade away so easily and continue to have significant influence in the Republican Party and the entire country. Trump is largely pro-Israel, unlike the usual anti-Zionist paleoconservatives.

Notable organizations and outlets

Organizations

Main article: List of paleoconservative organizations

• Abbeville Institute
• John Birch Society

Periodicals and websites

• The American Conservative
• Chronicles (magazine)
• Observer & Review
• Intercollegiate Review
• Taki's Magazine

References

Bibliography

References

1. Rockwell, Lew. "The Case for Paleo-libertarianism". [[Liberty (libertarian magazine).
2. De Coster, Karen (December 2, 2003). [https://www.lewrockwell.com/lrc-blog/paleolibertarianism/ "Paleolibertarianism"]. ''LewRockwell.com''. {{webarchive. link. (September 27, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2020.)
3. (2016-08-29). "Meet the Jewish 'Paleoconservative' Who Coined The Term 'Alternative Right'".
4. Lowry, Richard. (2005). "Reaganism v. Neo-Reaganism". Center for the National Interest.
5. Foer, Franklin. (July 22, 2002). "Home Bound".
6. Francis, Samuel. (July 1992). "The Buchanan Revolution".
7. Francis, Samuel. (March 2004). "(Con)fusion on the Right".
8. (April 18, 2016). "The alt-right is more than warmed-over white supremacy. It's that, but way way weirder.". Vox Media Inc.
9. Larison, Daniel. "How Paleo and Fusionist Conservatism Differ". American Conservative Union Foundation.
10. Judis, John B.. (October 3, 1999). "The Buchanan Doctrine". The New York Times.
11. Fleming, Thomas. (September 8, 2005). "Ethics 01A.1: Gay Marriage, Democracy". Rockford Institute.
12. Greenberg, David. (11 December 2016). "An Intellectual History of Trumpism". Politico.
13. [http://www.buchanan.org/pma-00-0621-fulani.html Pat Buchanan Responds To Lenora Fulani's Resignation – Buchanan Campaign Press Releases – theinternetbrigade – Official Web Site] {{webarchive. link. (October 5, 2006)
14. (2009). "Neo-Confederacy: A Critical Introduction". University of Texas Press.
15. Postel, Danny. (2023-11-07). "The Conservative Fault Lines Revealed by Debates Over Israel".
16. Fuller, Adam. (2019). "Israel and the Neoconservatives: Zionism and American Interests". [[Lexington Books]].
17. Schorr, Isaac. (2023-10-24). "Tucker Carlson and Douglas Macgregor Suggest Israel Is Committing 'War Crimes' and Mock 'Moral Victories'".
18. Gottfried, Paul. (May 28, 2024). "The Anti-White Sentiment Underlying Left-Wing Anti-Semitism". Rockford Institute.
19. Gottfried, Paul. (2018-02-01). "An Old Paleocon Sets the Record Straight".
20. "The Canadian Psychologist Beating American Pundits at Their Own Game". Capitol News Company.
21. Moldbug, Mencius. (August 13, 2009). "UR is on vacation". Unqualified Reservations.
22. Frum, David. (March 25, 2003). "Unpatriotic Conservatives".
23. (December 12, 2016). "An intellectual history of Trumpism".
24. (March 19, 2003). "Re: Paleocons On Immigration".
25. Matthews, Dylan. (May 6, 2016). "Paleoconservatism, the movement that explains Donald Trump, explained".
26. "'Paleoconservatives' Decry Immigration".
27. (May 1, 2007). "The American Conservative Crackup".
28. Continetti, Matthew. (June 1, 2019). "Making Sense of the New American Right".
29. (2019). "The view from MARS: US paleoconservatism and ideological challenges to the liberal world order". International Journal.
30. (December 24, 2018). "Inversion, Paradox, and Liberal Disintegration: Towards a Conceptual Framework of Trumpism". New Political Science.
31. (12 May 2025). "Lapid: Pro-Israel Trump is 'fed up' with Netanyahu, 'wants results,' cut hostage deal only for US citizen".
32. (17 November 2024). "What have Trump administration nominees said about Israel and its wars?".
33. (March 19, 2025). "The Trump right's pro-Israel antisemitism". [[Vox (website).
34. (31 July 2025). "Gaza starvation widens MAGA's rupture with Israel".
35. (May 6, 2016). "Paleoconservatism, the movement that explains Donald Trump, explained". [[Vox (website).
36. (May 30, 2008). "Why I Love Taki's Magazine". Charleston City Paper.