Robert Kagan's Theory of Anti-Liberalism

Robert Kagan suggests a direct line connecting historical events from the slave-holding South to modern conservatism, implying an unbroken tradition of anti-liberalism. However, this claim overlooks the complexities and nuances of American political history. Kagan's portrayal of William F. Buckley and the conservative movement as part of an anti-liberal tradition fails to consider the deep influence of classical liberal ideas on key conservative figures like Hayek, Friedman, and others.