One might be inclinded to ask whether or not all conservatives are created equally, they are not. The beginnings of conservatism are locked in the confines of the Enlightenment. Classical Liberalism is really the parent of all conservative thought in a strange, round about way. Today there can be found Classical Liberals on both sides of the political spectrum.
The split in conservatism came with the writing of Burke’s Reflections on the Revolution in France, where he praises the American revolution and bemoans the French. Burke was one of the few members of Parliament who supported the American colonies in their attempt to free themselves of British domination. In America the split was much sooner, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson while friends were bitter enemies at one point. John Adams can be considered the founder of American Classical Conservatism, while Jefferson falls into the Classical Liberal strain. For more information in the differences between these two classical schools, please look to my post titled “Thoughts on Schools within Conservatism.”
Today we see Paleoconservatism and Neoconservatism, both are remnants of what is called the Old Right which fell apart in the 1960′s. The Old Right, which encompassed other groups such as Southern Agrarians, was a non-interventionist, anti-war party which disagreed with the New Deal and opposed World War II. With the failed attempt by Barry Goldwater in 1964 to secure the Presidency of the United States, the New Right eventually was formed. These Neoconservatives disagreed with the Old Right’s stance of anti-war, and anti-intervention. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the term Paleoconservatism was actually coined, however they are really the remains of the Old Right which did not form the New Right. We might ask whether or not the Old Right, and subsequently the Neoconservatives and Paleoconservatives come from the Classical Liberal or Classical Conservative school of thought. The Old Right encompassed both, with Southern Agrarians and the actual Old Right being primarily Classical Liberals. There was some Classical Conservative elements to the Old Right coalition; namely the Traditionalists. The Southern Agrarians favored a return to the pre-Civil War, small federal government philosophy. Today one might associate this with Paleoconservatives, while Neoconservatives are seen as big federal government and less states rights. Many Paleoconservatives actually reject the notion of strict laws, while a Classical Conservative would favor strict laws as they believe in liberty through law.
Today’s disagreements with Conservatism stem from the 1960′s when the movement broken apart into Neo and Paleo movements. Unlike Liberalism, the Conservative movement is very diverse which makes it difficult to specifically outline their thoughts and history. These two groups today still disagree with America’s stance on war, immigration, and the spread of “Western” ideals to non Westerners. However, within the Paleoconservative movement there are multiple splinters. We can look to the movement to find that different values have helped create multiple schools, which ultimately find themselves linked back to Paleos or Neos. For example, Traditional Conservatives can be said to be Paleoconservatives but look to the Western Traditional for their guidance and do not necessarily adhere to the southern beliefs of Paleoconservatives proper. The Religious Right places more importance on the values supported by their specific religion (namely Christian Religions) which differs slightly from Paleoconservatives. The Religious Right is made up primarily of alienated Southern Democrats. Unlike many other Paleoconservatives, however, the Religious Right supports the war in Iraq and supports Israel.But due to the traditional view in small government of the south, Religious Right can’t be said to be Neoconservatives.
Ultimately, the Neoconservative movement is the most unified movement in conservative thought. Yet, Paleoconservatives can truly claim to be the correct heirs to the movement despite their splintering off. The closest movement to traditional American political beliefs of the conservative persuasion is Traditionalists. The Religious Right bridges the gap between Neocons and Paleocons. Ultimately, Classical Liberalism and Classical Conservatism are essential in understanding the Paleo and Neocon schools. With the founding of America, and the influence of John Adams on the foundation of the American regime, America became a conservative nation. With the election of Abraham Lincoln, there was a split in the American conservative movement. Southerners maintained an anti-centralist stance, while the Abraham Lincoln Republicans supported such a movement. The Old Right has its origins with the interwar period, where Conservatives took an anti-war, anti-interventist approach to the Second World War. It has eventually evolved in the 1960′s with the creation of the New Right/Neoconservativism. Today’s Paleoconservatives, by those I mean they who adhere to traditional southern beliefs, take on a Classical Liberal approach. While other Paleos, namely the Traditionalists, adhere to the Classical Conservative approach. This brings conservativism in America full circle; as it was at the beginning of the American experiment, so it is today.
