On Conservative Attitudes

Abstract

In contemporary American politics the term conservatism is used to refer to positions taken by a rather wide variety of more or less well organized groups and movements. There is the rightwing republicanism expressed in the writings, speeches and actions of Senator Goldwater. Closely related to Goldwater's positions are those taken by the National Review and its editor William F. Buckley, Jr. Goldwater and Buckley have substantial followings in the Republican party; many Republicans are disgusted with me-tooism and the acceptance and extensions of the welfare state by the Eisenhower administration and the liberal wing in the party. Further to the there are the radical right groups, for instance, the John Birch Society, The Christian Anti-Communist Crusade and the Christian Cnrsade of Billy James Hargis. These groups all have in common a rather obsessive concern with the threat Communism poses, domestically and in foreign policy. However, there are important differences between, say, the relatively moderate Christian Anti-Communist Cmsade, the Christian Crusade, based on rural Protestant Fundamentalism, and the John Birch Society. Senator Thomas Dodd, who often speaks at meetings with the Christian Anti-Communist Crusade, has voted in favor of liberal domestic legislation. The John Birch Society, on the other hand, is staunchly conservative on economic issues. And Billy James Hargis' movement, rooted in rural Protestant Fundamentalism, surely appeals to a different clientele than the upper middle class John Birch Society. There are a number of journalistic accounts of the rightwing movements in the United States, but up till recently no scholarly analyses have been published.2) In this paper we shall investigate two problems which we think are important for an understanding of contemporary American conservatism. 1. One problem derives from the recogrition that there are a number of different aspects of conservatism. These form a more or less coherent syndrome of attitudes. First, there are the traditional economic issues that have divided conservatives and liberals in American politics. These issues have to do with how much the Federal of State Governments should promote welfare policies for the benefit of needy individuals and communities. This dimension we call Economic Conservatism. Second, recent rightwing movements have stressed heavily