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National conservatism is a nationalist variant of conservatism[definition under discussion] that concentrates on upholding national, cultural identity, communitarianism and the public role of religion (see religion in politics). It shares aspects of traditionalist conservatism and social conservatism, while departing from economic liberalism and libertarianism, as well as taking a more pragmatic approach to regulatory economics and protectionism.[1][2][3][4] National conservatives usually combine conservatism with nationalist stances, emphasizing cultural conservatism, family values and opposition to illegal immigration or opposition to immigration per se.[5][6][7] National conservative parties often have roots in environments with a rural, traditionalist or peripheral basis, contrasting with the more urban support base of liberal conservative parties.[8]

In Europe, national conservatives usually embrace some form of Euroscepticism.[9] In post-communist central and eastern Europe specifically, most conservative parties since 1989 have followed a national conservative ideology.[10] Most notable is Viktor Orbán in Hungary, who has explicitly described his Fidesz's ideology as being national conservative in character and whose government is involved in the funding and spread of national conservative institutions across Europe and the United States, such as the Danube Institute, the Mathias Corvinus Collegium, The European Conservative magazine and the National Conservatism Conference.[5][6][11][12][13][14][15] In the United States, Trumpism can be considered a variety of national conservatism,[16][17][18] which also gives its name to the National Conservatism Conference, organised by the Edmund Burke Foundation.[19]

National conservatism was recently re-launched by Israeli-American political philosopher and Biblical scholar Yoram Hazony, with his 2022 book Conservatism: A Rediscovery.[20][21][22][23] Hazony has written that "In the political arena, conservatism refers to a standpoint that regards the recovery, restoration, elaboration, and repair of national and religious traditions as the key to maintaining a nation and strengthening it through time."[20]

Ideology

National conservatism focuses on "threats to moral order and the loss of moral bearing due to liberalism's relativism."[24]: 1089  It opposes modernity, liberalism, and socialism, instead valuing Europe's Christian heritage[24]: 1099  and "defending" Western civilization.[24]: 1093  National conservatism is silent on classical conservative thought expressed by Michael Oakeshott and Edmund Burke.[24]: 1099  In The Virtue of Nationalism, Yoram Hazony criticizes Jean-Jacques Rousseau and John Locke for creating a "dream world" where the "Jewish and Christian world" have "no place to exist".[16] National conservatism rejects standard historiography over the Enlightenment, modernization, and emancipation and key political events such as 1789, 1968, and 1989. National conservatism distances itself from fascism, viewing it along with liberalism and socialism as aspects of modernity and thus "disconnect human designs from normative order", instead calling for the "restoration and order" of social, moral, and political structures.[24]: 1099  Patrick Deneen argues that the "current elite" should be replaced with "a better aristocracy brought about by a muscular populism" to advance the "common good", with the common good loosely defined as "integration" which includes the reuniting of church and state.[16]

Social policies

Ideologically, national conservatism is not a uniform philosophy but adherents have broadly expressed support for nationalism, patriotism, assimilationism and monoculturalism. At the same time there is expressed opposition to internationalism, racial politics, multiculturalism and globalism.[25][26][27] National conservatives adhere to a form of cultural nationalism that emphasizes the preservation of national identity as well as cultural identity. As a result, many favor assimilation into the dominant culture, restrictions on immigration and strict law and order policies.[6][5]

National conservative parties support traditional family values, gender roles and the public role of religion,[5][28] being critical of the separation of church and state. According to the Austrian political scientist Sieglinde Rosenberger, "national conservatism praises the family as a home and a center of identity, solidarity, and tradition".[28] It opposes the "1968 agenda" of gender-related emancipation.[24]: 1099 

Economic policies

National conservative parties in different countries do not necessarily share a common position on economic policy. Their views may range from support of corporatism[citation needed] and mixed economy to a more laissez-faire approach. In the first, more common case, national conservatives can be distinguished from liberal conservatives,[29] for whom free market economic policies, deregulation and tight spending are the main priorities. Some commentators have indeed identified a growing gap between national and economic liberal conservatism: "Most parties of the Right [today] are run by economically liberal conservatives who, in varying degrees, have marginalised social, cultural and national conservatives."[29]

National conservatism developed its economic alternative to liberalism through political representatives in post-communist Europe, most notably Poland and Hungary, and the emergence of "pro-worker conservatism" in the United States.[24]: 1095  Throughout the 1990's, economic positions of national conservatives were largely fusionist.[24]: 1097  The works of Leo Strauss and Eric Voegelin have served as building blocks for the modern national conservative movement's socio-economic policies. Strauss' indictment of capitalism as 'economism' through the reduction of individual needs to consumption plays a role in national conservative thought, which argues for solidarism and an increased statist role in the economy to bring about a moralizing "financial nationalism" in opposition to communism and the individualism in liberalism.[24]: 1097–1098  Depending on the country, this can include increased support of protectionism; increased state social spending for "pro-worker" and "pro-family" conservatism; the re-nationalization of banks and strategic enterprises; and opposing tax breaks.[24]: 1098–1099  It supports 'social nativism' in East Asian state-led development as a socio-economic policy paradigm.[24]: 1093 

Foreign policy

National conservatives usually support a foreign policy that upholds the interests of their nation. They lean towards militarism, unilateralism and isolationism. They reject the internationalism and multilateralism that has characterized the modern global age.[30][31] They often have a negative view of the United Nations, feeling that its globalist agenda erodes their unique national identity,[30][31] as well as the European Union and other international organizations.[16]

Regionalist varieties

Main article: Regionalism (politics)

Regional parties can be nationalist or national conservative, without aligning with the country to which the region belongs. South Tyrol is a notable example, as "national conservative" parties there represent its German-speaking majority and identify with neighbouring Austria, with which South Tyrol shares cultural and historical ties.

List of national conservative political parties

Current national conservative parties, or parties with national conservative factions

The following political parties have been characterised as being ideologically influenced by national conservativism:

Defunct or formerly national conservative parties, or parties with national conservative factions

National conservative groups in the European Parliament

See also

References

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