A Conservative Crossroads: Dilemmas Facing the Modern American Right

In an era dominated by right-wing populism, some on the U.S. center-right have become uncomfortable with the state of American conservatism. Their unease is understandable. President Trump’s MAGA movement, however, is but the latest demonstration of the inescapable dilemmas at the heart of conservatism. Although intellectual conservatives have historically embraced an elitist sensibility, no openly elitist ideology can succeed in a mass democracy. On the other hand, right-wing populism has proven its political potency, but it cannot be easily reconciled with any recognizably conservative political philosophy. In this talk, George Hawley discusses the conservative movement’s contradictory responses to populism, from McCarthy to Trump.

George Hawley is an associate professor of political science at the University of Alabama. His research interests include religion, electoral behavior, political parties, the radical right, and the conservative movement in America.

He is the author of more than a half dozen books. Hawley's work has appeared…