WHY INTELLECTUAL CONSERVATISM DIED

In: Dissent: a journal devoted to radical ideas and the values of socialism and democracy, S. 42-47

Abstract

THE COLLAPSE OF INTELLECTUAL CONSERVATISM IN AMERICA HAS BEEN COMPLETE AND SWIFT. THE AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE BELIEVES THAT THE CONVENTIONAL EXPLANATIONS FOR THE DEMISE OF AMERICAN CONSERVATISM AS A SERIOUS INTELLECTUAL FORCE ARE WRONG. FOR EXAMPLE, IT IS A MISTAKE TO ATTRIBUTE THE DEATH OF INTELLECTUAL CONSERVATISM TO THE END OF THE COLD WAR. INSTEAD, THE DECLINE OF INTELLECTUAL CONSERVATISM HAS HAD LESS TO DO WITH GEOPOLITICS THAN WITH DOMESTIC POLITICS. IN ADDITION, THE DECLINE OF INTELLECTUAL CONSERVATISM CAN BE PARTLY ATTRIBUTTED TO THE FACT THAT CONSERVATIVE PUBLICATIONS ARE ADDICTED TO FOUNDATION MONEY WHICH HAS LED TO A LOWERING OF INTELLECTUAL STANDARDS. THE AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE ALSO BELIEVES THAT A SERIOUS REVIVAL OF THOUGHT ON THE POLITICAL RIGHT IS UNLIKELY FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER GENERATION.