Political theorist Matt McManus delves into the modern American right, exploring hierarchy and the Biden administration. He discusses conservatism history, radical figures like Goldwater, male resentment, illiberalism, liberalism evolution, media's role in Trump's rise, pragmatic voting for Biden, and leftist movement support for unions and electoral politics.
Modern American right redefines conservatism with new pillars like national conservatism and post-liberalism.
Conservative resistance to gender equality reflects complexities in reconciling evolving social roles with traditional beliefs.
Opposition to liberal hegemony unites contemporary conservatism, emphasizing rejection of liberal norms and values.
Future of conservatism leans towards illiberalism, driven by national conservatism, post-liberalism, and the Nietzschean right.
Deep dives
The Shift in Conservative Movements
The American conservative movement has transitioned, emphasizing new pillars like national conservatism, post-liberalism, and the Nietzschean right. While traditional elements persist, the trend towards illiberalism unites the new three-legged stool. Opposition to liberalism serves as a cohesive force, moving away from past alliances.
Challenges in Addressing Gender Issues
Gender dynamics within conservatism exhibit a strain of male resentment towards feminism's progress. Historical texts like James Stevens' works exemplify the resistance to gender equality. The challenge lies in reconciling evolving social roles with traditional beliefs, leading to complexities in relationship dynamics.
Conservative Movements: Illiberalism as a Core Tenet
The emergence of illiberalism as a defining feature in conservative movements underscores the opposition to liberal ideologies. This shift reflects a shared critique of liberal hegemony, emphasizing the rejection of liberal norms and values. The focus on challenging liberalism forms a fundamental aspect of contemporary conservatism.
Future of the Conservative Agenda
The future trajectory of conservatism leans towards a more illiberal stance, fueled by a three-legged stool comprising national conservatism, post-liberalism, and the Nietzschean right. While internal disagreements exist, the animosity towards liberalism remains a potent unifying force within the conservative movement.
Pathology of Victimization in Conservative Ideologies
Conservative ideologies are discussed in terms of a deeply ingrained sense of victimization and entitlement to power, wealth, and status over others. The pathology of victimization is highlighted as a central aspect, creating suspicion towards any politicking perceived as threatening their perceived entitlements.
Need for Inspiring Social Policies to Restore Confidence in Liberalism
The podcast emphasizes the importance of introducing inspiring social policies to demonstrate liberal parties' effectiveness in enacting meaningful change and fulfilling citizens' needs. By advocating for transformative policies such as Medicare for all, there is a potential to shift public perception and generate support for a broadly liberal democratic socialist agenda.
Shift in Leftist Perception and Media's Impact on Political Discourse
There is a discussion on the evolving perceptions within the leftist movement, with a focus on the need for charismatic leadership and engaging policies to appeal to a broader audience. It also touches upon media biases and their role in shaping political narratives, highlighting the challenges in garnering support for progressive initiatives and combating mainstream media coverage.
What defines the modern American right? Matt McManus argues we should understand the movement as fundementally about hierarchy, we then get into a general conversation about the Biden administration and the direction of the US Left.
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