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'''Paleoconservative''' is a term that describes an academic or scholarly [[conservative]] who emphasizes religious heritage, national and Western identity, [[tradition]], [[civil society]] and classical [[federalism]], the importance of [[demographics]], and an anti-interventionist policy of [[Robert Taft]]. Paleoconservatives oppose [[immigration]], [[communism]], [[authoritarianism]], [[social democracy]] and entitlement programs.

'''Paleoconservative''' is a term that describes an academic or scholarly [[conservative]] who emphasizes religious heritage, national and Western identity, [[tradition]], [[civil society]] and classical [[federalism]], the importance of [[demographics]], and an anti-interventionist policy of [[Robert Taft]]. Paleoconservatives oppose immigration, communism, [[authoritarianism]], [[social democracy]] and entitlement programs.

Many paleoconservatives identify themselves as "classical conservatives" and trace their philosophy to the [[Old Right]] [[Republicans]] of the interwar period, which helped keep the U.S. out of the [[United Nations|League of Nations]], reduce immigration with the passage of the Immigration Act of 1924, and oppose [[Franklin Roosevelt]]. They often look back even further, to [[Edmund Burke]], as well as the American anti-federalist movement that stretched from the days of [[Thomas Jefferson]] to [[John C. Calhoun]].

Many paleoconservatives identify themselves as "classical conservatives" and trace their philosophy to the [[Old Right]] Republicans of the interwar period, which helped keep the U.S. out of the [[League of Nations]], reduced immigration with the passage of the Immigration Act of 1924, and opposed [[Franklin Roosevelt]]'s [[New Deal]]. They were [[isolationists]] who opposed entry into [[World War II]].

Paleoconservatism is a dominant paradigm in the [[Bible Belt]] states.

 

Paleoconservatism is popular in the [[Bible Belt]] states.

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

The term paleoconservative was first used by paleoconservative historians [[Thomas Fleming]] or [[Paul Gottfried]], with the "paleo" prefix meaning "old" in opposition to the "neo", or "new", conservatives. The term is now routinely used by both its proponents and its detractors.<ref>'''Phillips, Dan''' "What the Heck is a Paleoconservative and Why You Should Care" (2006) [http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/12/08/what-the-heck-is-a-paleoconservative-and-why-you-should-care/ Intellectual Conservative]. Accessed 26 December 2007.</ref>

The term paleoconservative was first used by paleoconservative historians [[Thomas Fleming]] and [[Paul Gottfried]], with the "paleo" prefix meaning "old" in opposition to the "neo", or "new", conservatives. The term is now routinely used by both its proponents and its detractors.<ref>'''Phillips, Dan''' "What the Heck is a Paleoconservative and Why You Should Care" (2006) [http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/12/08/what-the-heck-is-a-paleoconservative-and-why-you-should-care/ Intellectual Conservative]. Accessed 26 December 2007.</ref>

Gottfried wrote in his entry to ''American Conservatism: An Encyclopedia'': "Paleoconservative" becomes a conceptual and political counterpoint to "neoconservative" in "The Conservative Movement" by Thomas Fleming and Paul Gottfried (1988). Here the term no longer refers merely to conservative traditionalists of the 1950s and 1960s, e.g., Southern Agrarians, Catholic anticommunists associated with "National Review", and Taft Republicans who rallied to the Cold War. Instead, the term is now applied to embattled conservatives who opposed the growing influence of anticommunist New Deal Democrats on the Reagan presidency and on the conservative movement on the 1980s."

Gottfried wrote in his entry to ''American Conservatism: An Encyclopedia'': "Paleoconservative" becomes a conceptual and political counterpoint to "neoconservative" in "The Conservative Movement" by Thomas Fleming and Paul Gottfried (1988). Here the term no longer refers merely to conservative traditionalists of the 1950s and 1960s, e.g., Southern Agrarians, Catholic anticommunists associated with "National Review", and Taft Republicans who rallied to the Cold War. Instead, the term is now applied to embattled conservatives who opposed the growing influence of anticommunist New Deal Democrats on the Reagan presidency and on the conservative movement on the 1980s."

==Philosophy==

==Philosophy==

Paleoconservatism "is distinguished by certain [[Philosophy|philosophical]] presumptions that differ markedly from the presumptions of [[neocon]]s and most modern conservatives."<ref>'''Phillips, Dan''' "What the Heck is a Paleoconservative and Why You Should Care" op cit.</ref>  

Paleoconservatism "is distinguished by certain philosophical presumptions that differ markedly from the presumptions of [[neocon]]s and most modern conservatives."<ref>'''Phillips, Dan''' "What the Heck is a Paleoconservative and Why You Should Care" op cit.</ref>  

 

Unlike most conservatives today, paleoconservatives are against the [[Iraq War]]. They are highly critical of the [[George W. Bush|Bush administration]] and the mainstream conservative movement. Paleoconservatism vocally distinguishes itself in its opposition to [[neoconservative|neoconservatism]]. However, what really sets them apart from other conservatives is much deeper than just policy: they generally reject the [[Enlightenment]] in whole or in part; they reject [[John Locke|Lockean]] "[[Social contract|contract theory]]" and the concept of "natural rights" outright. Dr. Donald Livingston, Professor of Philosophy at [[Emory University]], has argued that natural rights are a "philosophical superstition," and that "Whatever they might be, natural rights are universal and apply to all men. Further, they are known by reason, independent of any inherited moral tradition... It follows, therefore, that the doctrine of natural rights must be in a condition of permanent hostility to all inherited moral traditions. Any such tradition, no matter how noble the goods of excellence cultivated in it, can always be seen as violating ''someone's'' natural rights under some interpretation or another."<ref>'''Phillips, Dan''' "Understanding the Paleoconservative Perspective on Life" (2006) [http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/10/31/understanding-the-paleoconservative-perspective-on-life/ Intellectual Conservative]. Accessed 26 December 2007.</ref>  

Most controversially, they reject the concept of "natural rights" outright. Dr. Donald Livingston, Professor of Philosophy at Emory University, has argued that natural rights are a "philosophical superstition," and that "Whatever they might be, natural rights are universal and apply to all men. Further, they are known by reason, independent of any inherited moral tradition... It follows, therefore, that the doctrine of natural rights must be in a condition of permanent hostility to all inherited moral traditions. Any such tradition, no matter how noble the goods of excellence cultivated in it, can always be seen as violating ''someone's'' natural rights under some interpretation or another."<ref>'''Phillips, Dan''' "Understanding the Paleoconservative Perspective on Life" (2006) [http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/10/31/understanding-the-paleoconservative-perspective-on-life/ Intellectual Conservative]. Accessed 26 December 2007.</ref>  

Paleos agree with mainstream conservatives on issues like opposition to [[secularism]], [[abortion]] on demand and [[gay marriage]], while supporting capital punishment, handgun ownership and an original intent reading of the [[U.S. Constitution]]. Paleocons also often argue that modern managerial society is a threat to stable families.

Paleos agree with mainstream conservatives on issues like opposition to [[secularism]], abortion on demand and gay marriage, while supporting capital punishment, handgun ownership and an original intent reading of the [[U.S. Constitution]]. Paleocons also often argue that modern managerial society is a threat to stable families.

=== Government ===

=== Government ===

== Definitions ==

== Definitions ==

In the March 2004 edition of [[Chronicles (magazine)|''Chronicles'']] magazine, Samuel Francis defined paleoconservatism versus conservatism as: "What paleoconservatism tries to tell Americans is that the dominant forces in their society are no longer committed to conserving the traditions, institutions, and values that created and formed it, and, therefore, that those who are really conservative in any serious sense and wish to live under those traditions, institutions, and values need to oppose the dominant forces and form new ones."

In the March 2004 edition of [[Chronicles (magazine)|''Chronicles'']] magazine, [[Samuel Francis]] defined paleoconservatism versus conservatism as: "What paleoconservatism tries to tell Americans is that the dominant forces in their society are no longer committed to conserving the traditions, institutions, and values that created and formed it, and, therefore, that those who are really conservative in any serious sense and wish to live under those traditions, institutions, and values need to oppose the dominant forces and form new ones."

Journalist Rod Dreher of the ''Dallas Morning News'' outlined what he called the "Crunchy Con Manifesto", which summarizes most paleoconservative principles:

Journalist Rod Dreher of the ''Dallas Morning News'' outlined what he called the "Crunchy Con Manifesto", which summarizes most paleoconservative principles:

[[category:political Ideologies]]

[[category:political Ideologies]]

[[category:Conservatives]]

[[category:Conservatives]]