Paleoconservatism Vs. Neoconservatism: A Primer

When people think of conservatism, many automatically think of George W. Bush, but he is only one type of conservative. Conservatism tends to fall into thee very different categories: paleoconservatism, neoconservatism, and libertarianism. Libertarians are a completely different species, so I'll briefly delineate some of the differences between paleoconservatism and neoconservatism.

Paleoconservatism: The Old Right, "America First"

Like the dinosaurs, paleoconservatism seems to be a dying breed, but its adherents are proudly hanging on. Paleoconservatism represents what the GOP used to be before Iraq and the war on terror. The typical paleoconservative probably goes to church, subscribes to The American Conservative, dislikes President Bush, and feels disenfranchised with the current GOP.

Paleoconservatism and Social Issues: Paleoconservatives tend to agree with Republicans on right to life issues such as abortion and euthanasia.

Paleoconservatism and Economics: Paleoconservatives tend to support isolationism and protectionist trade policies.

Paleoconservatism and Immigration: Heightened border security, stricter laws on immigration

Paleoconservatism and Foreign Policy: Anti-Bush, Anti-Iraq War, Anti-Israel. Paleoconservatism leans towards isolationism. Paleoconservatives opposed the Iraq War, arguing that the traditional conservatives were isolationists.

Paleoconservatism and Israel: Paleoconservatives then to be anti-Israel. They argue that America's support of Israel caused us to become a target for Islamic fundamentalists. Some may even argue that the state of Israel should not exist.

Famous figures in Paleoconservatism: Pat Buchanan, Tom Tancredo, Calvin Coolidge (on foreign policy), or Ron Paul (on foreign policy)

Rhetoric of Paleoconservatism: "We are a republic, not an empire." "Close up our borders." "Isolationism!" "George Washington, in his farewell address, argued for neutrality and warned against permanent entangling alliances." "Not with my paycheck you don't!"

Pros and Cons of Paleoconservatism: What I like about paleoconservatism is the recognition that America's role is not to police the world. However, the extremists of paleoconservatism tend to be a bit anti-Semitic, though this may be more a reflection of Pat Buchanan than of paleoconservatism itself.

Neoconservatism: The New Right, George Bush Conservatism, "Israel First"

The typical neoconservative is Republican, possibly Jewish or Evangelical Christian, has a picture of George W. Bush hanging on his wall, and subscribes to National Review.

Neoconservatism, Social Issues, and Economics: Neoconservatism promotes socially and fiscally conservative ideology, but they're willing to spend oodles of government money to achieve those ends--hence the paradox, using (fiscally) liberal means to achieve conservative ends.

Neoconservatism and Foreign Policy: Interventionism. Neoconservatism is hawkish on military and foreign policy. Neocons will do whatever it takes to win the War on Terror, even if it means deficit spending, supporting the Patriot Act, extreme military spending, and remaining indefinitely in the Middle East.

Neoconservatism and Israel: As the only democracy in the Middle East, America has a duty to aid Israel in its War on Terror and radical jihad.

Famous figures in Neoconservatism: George W. Bush, Ann Coulter, John McCain (on foreign policy), Joe Lieberman (on foreign policy)

Rhetoric of Neoconservatism: "We live in an age of terror." "America's Isolationism before WWII allowed Hitler to rise to power." "Neville Chamberlain tried to appease Hitler in 1938. We all know how that turned out." "We cannot afford a policy of retreat and defeat!"

Pros and Cons of Neoconservatism: I like that neoconservatism recognizes the importance of Israel as a thriving democracy in the Middle East. What I don't like is the belief that America needs to be deficit spending in order to police the Middle East.

Paleoconservatism vs. Neoconservatism: Evaluation

With Paleoconservatism and Neoconservatism, I find myself in the middle of two extremes. While I support Israel's right to exist, and even to defend itself against terrorism, I don't necessarily support pouring government money into Israel. I was not in favor of the Iraq war because of the cost, and because there were no weapons of mass destruction. Yet while I'm not a fan of McCain's hawkish policies, given his military record, I would trust him more than George Bush to lead us through war.