Paleoconservatism is a subsection of American conservatism that refers to a loose movement and line of thought united under the banner of advocacy for traditional America and opposition to neoconservativism, globalism, liberalism, and New Leftism. Positions typically advocated for and agreed upon by all include isolationism, along with anti-Zionism and opposition to US support for Israel, tariffs and protectionism, immigration restriction, the rollback of liberal-managerial social engineering policies, and the reassertion of traditional American values, with most going even further and advocating for a return to traditional Christianity, of either a Protestant or Catholic variety.
Although the general ideas of isolationism, immigration restrictionism, cultural conservatism, and protectionism enjoyed widespread support from the average American conservative, with the paleocon Pat Buchanan winning 23% of the popular vote in the Republican 1992 primaries despite fierce opposition from the uniparty establishment, for its opposition to the New World Order, anti-imperialism, and anti-globalism, this strain of conservatism was seen as dangerous by the neocons and the deep state, which led to paleocons being purged from organized conservatism and marginalized in the Republican party.
Donald Trump's election in 2016 represented a resurgence of paleoconservatism against the neocon wing of the Republican party although he himself isn't a paleoconservative, differing mostly in his lack of social conservatism and support for Israel.
"I would not say that Donald Trump is a paleoconservative. … I don’t think [Trump’s] a social conservative...I was just astonished to see him raise the precise issues on which we ran in the 1990s. … Donald Trump has raised three issues of real concern to paleoconservatives and traditional conservatives like myself.”, said Pat Buchanan.
Prominent paleoconservatives:[edit | edit source]
- Patrick Buchanan
- Tucker Carlson
- Mel Bradford
- Paul Gottfried
- Samuel Francis
- Joseph Sobran
- Murrary Rothbard
- Thomas Fleming
- Taki Theodoracopulos