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A '''neoconservative''' (colloquially, ''neocon'') is a former [[liberal]] who calls himself a [[conservative]].  Neoconservatives have distinctive liberatian positions in domestic policy and favor an active international role for the U.S. in promoting democracy and freedom worldwide.  They played a major role in the administrations of [[Ronald Reagan]] and [[George W. Bush]].  Wattenberg (2008)  explains the emergence of the neocon movement from its roots among Cold War thinkers such as Irving Kristol and Norman Podhoretz and from among the ashes of pre-radical liberalism of the early 1960s, to Democratic Senators Scoop Jackson and Pat Moynihan, to diplomat [[Jeanne Kirkpatrick]] and President [[Ronald Reagan]]. Miuch of the energy of the movement comes from its prominence in "think tanks," (research centers) including the American Enterprise Institute.

A '''neoconservative''' (colloquially, ''neocon'') is a former [[liberal]] who calls himself a [[conservative]], or a former [[conservative]] who caters to political views of the [[media]]. Neoconservatives favor [[globalism]], a bigger government, and so-called "[[free trade]]"; neocons downplay religious values and often disagree with [[conservatives]] on key social issues like [[abortion]] and [[homosexuality]]. Neoconservatives oppose appointing [[Supreme Court]] Justices who would overturn ''[[Roe v. Wade]]''.  Neoconservatives place their highest domestic priority on opposing [[affirmative action]] while silently opposing social conservatives on moral issues.  On foreign policy, neoconservatives believe that [[democracy]] can and should be installed by the [[United States]] around the world, even in Muslim countries such as [[Iraq]], [[Iran]], and [[Saudi Arabia]]. Neocons tend to be [[atheistic]] while [[conservatives]] tend to be religious. On the opposite end of the conservative movement from neoconservatism, is [[paleoconservative|paleoconservatism]].

 

neoconservatives generally favor [[globalism]], a bigger government, and "[[free trade]]"; neocons downplay religious values and often disagree with religious [[conservatives]] on key social issues like [[abortion]] and [[homosexuality]].   Neoconservatives place their highest domestic priority on opposing [[affirmative action]].  On foreign policy, neoconservatives believe that [[democracy]] can and should be installed by the [[United States]] around the world, especially in the foremrr Soviet Union and in Muslim countries such as [[Iraq]], [[Iran]], and [[Saudi Arabia]]. They strongly support the ttae of [[Israel]].  Most of the prominent neoconservatives have been Jewish, but there have also been prominent Catholics such as Senator [[Daniel P. Moynihan]]. Inside the conservative movement they are strongly opposed by [[paleoconservative]]s.

In an essay entitled "The Neoconservative Persuasion," neocon founder [[Irving Kristol]] argued for a Big Government and said that neoconservatives favor the Roosevelts rather than [[conservative]] heroes of [[Calvin Coolidge]] and [[Barry Goldwater]].<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=bdMPO7l2F7UC&pg=PA184&lpg=PA184&dq=neoconservative+%22barry+goldwater%22&source=web&ots=ZaZb29PBPp&sig=ZMh9_a4g4UZlqedxJlnDG-lbo-Y</ref>

In an essay entitled "The Neoconservative Persuasion," neocon founder [[Irving Kristol]] argued for a Big Government and said that neoconservatives favor the Roosevelts rather than [[conservative]] heroes of [[Calvin Coolidge]] and [[Barry Goldwater]].<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=bdMPO7l2F7UC&pg=PA184&lpg=PA184&dq=neoconservative+%22barry+goldwater%22&source=web&ots=ZaZb29PBPp&sig=ZMh9_a4g4UZlqedxJlnDG-lbo-Y</ref>

==Origin==

==Origin==

[[Image:Kris.gif|thumb|right|Irving Kristol was dubbed by many as "the Godfather" of Neo-conservatism]]

[[Image:Kris.gif|thumb|right|Irving Kristol was dubbed by many as "the Godfather" of Neo-conservatism]]

Neo-conservatism was developed by a group of intellectuals graduated from the City College of New York in the late 1930's, a group that includes [[Irving Kristol]], [[Daniel Bell]], [[Seymour Martin Lipset]], and [[Nathan Glazer]].<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/Neoconservative-Revolution-Jewish-Intellectuals-Shaping/dp/0521836565/ref=sr_1_3/102-2076504-6567320?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175142752&sr=8-3 The Neoconservative Revolution: Jewish Intellectuals and the Shaping of Public Policy, Murray Friedman, 2005]</ref>  Many of this group came to despise the counterculture of the 1960's and what they felt was a growing "[[anti-Americanism]]" among many baby boomers.  And during the [[Cold War]] era, many of them came to realize the evil of the Stalinist regime.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/19/magazine/neo.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5090&en=4126fa38fefd80de&ex=1298005200 After Neoconservatism, February 19, 2006]</ref>  Kristol described a neoconservative as a '''"liberal mugged by reality"'''. The development of neo-conservatism was strongly influenced by the work of German philosopher [[Leo Strauss]] and Marxist theorist [[Leon Trotsky]].  Irving Kristol himself was once a member of the [[4th international]].

Neo-conservatism was developed by a group of intellectuals graduated from the City College of New York in the late 1930's, a group that includes [[Irving Kristol]], [[Daniel Bell]] and [[Nathan Glazer]].<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/Neoconservative-Revolution-Jewish-Intellectuals-Shaping/dp/0521836565/ref=sr_1_3/102-2076504-6567320?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175142752&sr=8-3 The Neoconservative Revolution: Jewish Intellectuals and the Shaping of Public Policy, Murray Friedman, 2005]</ref>  Many of this group came to despise the counterculture of the 1960's and what they felt was a growing "[[anti-Americanism]]" among many baby boomers.  And during the [[Cold War]] era, many of them came to realize the evil of the Stalinist regime.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/19/magazine/neo.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5090&en=4126fa38fefd80de&ex=1298005200 After Neoconservatism, February 19, 2006]</ref>  Kristol described a neoconservative as a '''"liberal mugged by reality"'''. The development of neo-conservatism was strongly influenced by the work of German philosopher [[Leo Strauss]] and Marxist theorist [[Leon Trotsky]].  Irving Kristol himself was once a member of the [[4th international]].

== Religion ==

== Religion ==

==Influence==

==Influence==

Neoconservatives, thanks to their strong base in think tanks, are well represented in television talk shows, magazines, and advisory positions in Republican Administrations.   The national media use them to balance liberal spokesmen.  Some prominent neoconservatives are [[Bill Kristol|William Kristol]], [[Paul Wolfowitz]], [[Lewis Libby]], [[David Horowitz]], [[Norman Podhoretz]], [[Daniel Pipes]], [[Charles Krauthammer]], [[Richard Perle]], [[Robert Kagan]], Christopher Hitchens, Willmoore Kendall, Stephen Schwartz, Elliott Abrams and Carl Gershman.  Some critics have argued that the neoconservative concept of "'''global democratic revolution'''" was derived from the Trotskyist Fourth International's "'''vision of permanent revolution'''".<ref>http://antiwar.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&expire=&urlID=8208846&fb=Y&partnerID=16</ref>  Stephen Schwartz said that "those who are fighting for global democracy should view Leon Trotsky as a worthy forerunner" who fought Stalin and would prefer that "neocons" be called "Trotskycons".<ref>http://www.newoxfordreview.org/article.jsp?did=1205-editorial</ref>

Neoconservatives are small in number but dominate television talk shows, magazines, Washington-based think tanks, and advisory positions in Republican Administrations. Some prominent neoconservatives are [[Bill Kristol|William Kristol]], [[Paul Wolfowitz]], [[Lewis Libby]], [[David Horowitz]], [[Norman Podhoretz]], [[Daniel Pipes]], [[Charles Krauthammer]], [[Richard Perle]], [[Robert Kagan]], Christopher Hitchens, Willmoore Kendall, Stephen Schwartz, Elliott Abrams and Carl Gershman.  Some critics have argued that the neoconservative concept of "'''global democratic revolution'''" was derived from the Trotskyist Fourth International's "'''vision of permanent revolution'''".<ref>http://antiwar.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&expire=&urlID=8208846&fb=Y&partnerID=16</ref>  Stephen Schwartz said that "those who are fighting for global democracy should view Leon Trotsky as a worthy forerunner" and would prefer that "neocons" be called "Trotskycons".<ref>http://www.newoxfordreview.org/article.jsp?did=1205-editorial</ref>

== References ==

== References ==

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<references/>

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

*[http://www.iasps.org/strat1.htm A Clean Break: A New Strategy for Securing the Realm] - a key neoconservative document.

*[http://www.iasps.org/strat1.htm A Clean Break: A New Strategy for Securing the Realm] - a key neoconservative document.

*[http://www.opinionjournal.com/federation/feature/?id=110010684 Neoconservatism's Future: It's still the only game in town], Joshua Muravchik, OpinionJournal.com, October 3, 2007.  From ''[[Commentary]]''.

*[http://www.opinionjournal.com/federation/feature/?id=110010684 Neoconservatism's Future: It's still the only game in town], Joshua Muravchik, OpinionJournal.com, October 3, 2007.  From ''[[Commentary]]''.