National Conservatism: A Defense

A few months ago, a group of scholars, journalists, thinkers, and gadflies signed a statement of principles organized by Yoram Hazony and others, around his theme of national conservatism. Among the signatories were John O’Sullivan, Daniel McCarthy, Ryszard Legutko, Christopher Rufo, and Peter Thiel. To be clear about my sympathies, I signed as well and am writing now from Hazony’s National Conservatism Conference in Miami.

As is often the case, a statement like this is meant to draw out debate, and thankfully it ha s. Another group of thinkers, peers, and friends — including Rowan Williams, former archbishop of Canterbury; Catholic thinker Thomas Pink; and Red Toryism’s chief exponent, Phillip Blond — signed an open letter registering their dismay. In fact it accused the NatCon statement of being “neither conservative nor Christian.”

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Michael Brendan Dougherty

Michael Brendan Dougherty is a senior writer at National Review Online.

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A few months ago, a group of scholars, journalists, thinkers, and gadflies signed a statement of principles organized by Yoram Hazony and others, around his theme of national conservatism. Among the signatories were John O’Sullivan, Daniel McCarthy, Ryszard Legutko, Christopher Rufo, and Peter Thiel. To be clear about my sympathies, I signed as well and am writing now from Hazony’s National Conservatism Conference in Miami.

As is often the case, a statement like this is meant to draw out debate, and thankfully it ha s. Another group of thinkers, peers, and friends — including Rowan Williams, former archbishop of Canterbury; Catholic thinker Thomas Pink; and Red Toryism’s chief exponent, Phillip Blond — signed an open letter registering their dismay. In fact it accused the NatCon statement of being “neither conservative nor Christian.”