By Craig Shirley
Wednesday, 01 October 2025 06:11 AM EDT
A recent conference in Washington titled “National Conservatism” revealed a troubling misrepresentation of American political principles. There is no such thing as national conservatism, particularly in the United States. An examination of its agenda and speakers exposed it as a shallow effort to rebrand neoconservatism under a different name.
The conference drew inspiration from British politician Edmund Burke, who historically aligned with London’s elite, defended the divine right of kings during the French Revolution, and prioritized political connections over principle. Neoconservatives, tracing their origins to 1940s Trotskyite roots within the Democratic Party, have long sought to merge American foreign policy with Israel’s interests. This agenda became evident in the Iraq War, a conflict driven by neocon priorities that cost countless lives and resources.
American conservatism, rooted in the Scottish Revolution, Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke and Thomas Jefferson, emphasizes individual freedom over state power. The Declaration of Independence itself enshrined rights to life, liberty, and property, reflecting this tradition. Yet the conference’s preamble avoided discussing these foundational principles, instead framing nationalism as a threat to a “rules-based liberal order.” This is a distortion of American conservatism, which has always embraced populism—opposition to big government and corporate dominance.
The organizers’ fear of populism ignores its historical role in American conservatism. As William Buckley once noted, he would prefer governance by the first 100 names in a city’s phone book over elite institutions like Harvard. This populist ethos remains central to true American conservatism, distinct from British models that prioritize top-down authority.
Historian and Reagan biographer Craig Shirley is the author of numerous works on politics and the conservative movement. Read Craig Shirley’s Reports — More Here.
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