The New Conservatism and its Critics

by Joseph Prud'homme (Editor)

Overview

The New Conservatism and its Critics examines the pressing issue of contemporary conservatism in the United States in light of the presidency of Donald Trump, providing a wealth of new insights on American conservative thought across its 23 detailed chapters. After reflections on the classical liberal inheritance within much in American conservatism, it brings together leading thinkers defending the so-called New Conservatism. Condemning “establishment” conservatives as misguided, ineffective, or both, New Conservatives are now highly influential-and they deserve to be addressed seriously. To this end, the book contains original chapters defending New Conservatism by such influential scholars as Patrick Deneen, Roger Kimball, Arthur Milikh, and Scott Yenor. While offering critiques of this movement by scholars generally sympathetic to conservative or classical liberal positions but who remain in skeptical of New Conservative thought, including chapters by Robert George, Joshua Mitchell, William Ruger, and David Corey. As well as prominent thinkers critical of conservativism-both new and old-including Corey Brettschneider, Laura Field, and Jacob Levy. The work concludes with reflections on conservatism in our contemporary era by R.R. Reno and Wilfred McClay. In a time of heightened political polarization and misconceptions, this extensive volume will advance the understanding of contending political theories in contemporary American life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781666938579
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	10/02/2025
Pages:	392
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

Table of Contents

Table of Contents
Introduction by Joseph Prud'homme, Washington College, USA

Classical Liberal Foundations
Chapter 1: The New Conservatism and the Classical Liberal Inheritanceby Joseph Prud'homme, Washington College, USA

Articulations of New Conservatism
Chapter 2: The Culture of Conservatism and Our Current Condition by Roger Kimball, The New Criterion, USA
Chapter 3: New versus Old Right by Arthur Milikh, Claremont College, USA
Chapter 4: Closing the Door on the Open Society: An Overview of National Conservatism by Scott Yenor, Claremont College, USA
Chapter 5: The Priority of Order by Patrick J. Deneen, University of Notre Dame, USA
Chapter 6: The New Conservatism and Overturning 'Engel v. Vitale' by John Hirschauer, City Journal, USA
Chapter 7: Civil Discourse with Trump Supporters: Are They Wicked or Irrational? by Shannon Holzer, Houston Christian University, USA and Jonathan Fuqua, Conception Seminary College, USA

Cautions and Current Possibilities
Chapter 8: In Defense of a Renewed Fusionism by William Ruger, American Institute for Economic Research, USA
Chapter 9: A Coalition of the Sensible: What's Wrong with “The New Right” by David Corey, Baylor University, USA
Chapter10: Four Nietzsches: A Cautionary Account by Joshua Mitchell, Georgetown University, USA
Chapter 11: Liberalism, Religion, and Conservative Political Thought: The Baby and the Bathwater by Ryan T. Anderson, Princeton University, USA and Robert P. George, Princeton University, USA
Chapter 12: Against Nostalgia: Liberalism, Conservatism, and Puritanism by Samuel Goldman, George Washington University, USA
Chapter 13: Race and Movement Conservatism in America by Brandon Turner, Clemson University, USA
Chapter 14: The Crisis of Free Expression and the Value of the Integralist Impulse in American Political Thought: A Plan to Reinvigorate Free Speech in the United States by Joseph Prud'homme, Washington College, USA
Chapter 15: Quo Vadis? Miguel de Unamuno and the Transcendence of Freedom by Enrique Pallares, University of Pennsylvania, USA
Chapter 16: Conservatism and the Nation Rightly Understood by Daniel Cullen, Rhodes College, USA

Critiques and Political Assessments
Chapter 17: Liberalism, Social Justice Activism, and the Politics of Complicity by Timothy Wyman McCarty, University of San Diego, USA
Chapter 18: Against Atomism by Steven Pittz, University of Colorado, USA
Chapter 19: Patrick Deneen vs. 1619: Comparing Cultural Tracts from the Trump Era by Laura K. Field, American University, USA
Chapter 20: When the State Speaks, What Must it Say? by Corey Brettschneider, Brown University, USA
Chapter 21: American Liberalism and Its Rivals by Jacob Levy, McGill University, Canada

The Spirit of Conservatism
Chapter 22: The New Conservative Era by R.R. Reno, First Things, USA
Chapter 23: The Conservatism of Memory by Wilfred M. McClay, Hillsdale College, USA

Editorial Reviews

We live in a time of political, social, and philosophical unrest. Such times call for a rethinking. One effort at this rethinking is what we call the 'new conservatism.' What is this new conservatism? What makes it conservative and what makes it new? Joseph Prud'homme has produced the best summary yet of this new movement through contributions from its leading lights, fellow travelers, and critics. His introduction alone is a masterful summary of the conservative intellectual tradition and the new right's place in it. No reader will walk away from this book ignorant of what the new conservatism is and what it means for the country or for the future of the conservative intellectual tradition in all its variety.” —Luke C. Sheahan, Duquesne University, USA

“The New Conservatism and its Critics is an important collection that should be essential reading for anyone wanting to understand the current intellectual debates on the right.” —Keith Whittington, Yale Law School

“This book provides a detailed and nuanced analysis of the monumental changes that have transpired in conservative ideology and policy since the election of Donald J. Trump. It offers a collection of intellectually stimulating articles from distinguished scholars, authors, and pundits, representing a wide range of opinions and perspectives across the political spectrum on the most important social and moral issues facing the nation. It allows the reader to step back from the typical emotive response to Trump on the left and the right in the popular forum and seriously engage contemporary issues of the day and new ways of approaching those issues in the political landscape from some of the best minds in the country.” —Stephen Strehle, Christopher Newport University, USA

From the Publisher