New Books in Critical Theory Matthijs Lok, "Europe Against Revolution: Conservatism, Enlightenment, and the Making of the Past" (Cambridge UP, 2023)
Jan 12, 2026
Author Matthijs Lok discusses the roots of European ideas, contrasting conservative and Enlightenment views. They touch on counter-revolutionary authors defending Europe, opposition to revolutionary principles, and the evolution of European society. The podcast explores conservatism's rise globally, the dark side of Enlightenment values, and German theorists' views on Europe as diverse. It also delves into lesser-known Enlightenment figures, the concept of the European Republic, and European conservatism during the Vienna Order period.
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Europe Decline Is A Political Narrative
- The trope of European decline is very old and often tied to political agendas rather than pure analysis.
- Counter-revolutionaries around 1800 framed decline to argue for regeneration and concrete political solutions.
Europe As An Invented Historical Continuum
- Counter-revolutionaries invented the idea of Europe as an "historic continent" defined by slow institutional development.
- They argued the French Revolution interrupted this historical continuity and thus 'destroyed history.'
Conservatives Co-opted Enlightenment Tools
- Many counter-revolutionaries adopted Enlightenment tools and language while rejecting its revolutionary politics.
- Conservatism around 1800 used Enlightenment ideas to defend tradition and moderation against radical change.