Up from Conservatism: Revitalizing the Right after a Generation of Decay

by Arthur Milikh (editor)

The Conservative Establishment’s consensus of the past two generations has almost totally broken down. Conservatism was unable to stop or even slow the Left’s rolling revolutions in nearly every sector of American society—from classrooms to boardrooms, from the military to the culture at large. The Left has successfully transformed the nation over the past few generations, racking up victory after victory, with no clear end in sight. This is not sustainable for the country or the constituency represented by the Republican Party. For the Right to have a serious future, it needs to rethink its positions and think more deeply about the essential policy questions which will define the future of the race, men and women, sexuality, religion, the economy, foreign policy, and other major issues. This collection of essays, written by some of the Right’s most interesting thinkers and practitioners, seeks to reframe the ideological and policy direction of the American Right.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

321 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 27, 2023

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

In light of the conservative movement's pathetic overall track record in the past few decades, a who's who of the brightest thinkers on the Right today offer a way forward in this new volume. In a collection of readable and incisive essays, these contributors diagnose what ails the Right--and the country as a whole--and provide the means to mount an effective counter-offensive against the Left.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The establishment Right hoped to be left alone. The New Right understands that this is impossible".

This collection of essays makes several things clear. Firstly, American conservatives have failed to conserve much of anything over the last 60 years. From constitutional government, economics, and the security state apparatus to education, culture, and marriage, the contributors show in painful detail how conservatives have ceded ground to the Left at every turn. Published in 2023, it describes how institutions have been captured, norms have been subverted, and the machinery of the state has been weaponised against conservative-minded Americans. Two factions stand responsible: the political Left, who have been more adept at wielding political power and are more willing to wield it shamelessly to their own ends, and a Republican party willing to trade away social cohesion, cultural influence, and traditional values in exchange for an economic policy of "Line Go Up".

Secondly, the book evidences the impressive network of American conservative thinkers still active despite the string of losses and retreats in the public sphere. Hailing mostly from academia and think tanks, the writers display serious intellectual firepower and a willingness to address topics, such as demographic change and race relations, which make the average GOP Representative immediately start sweating behind the collar. As a Scrutonian conservative living in the modern UK, I can only look on in envy at the well-funded, well-organised intellectual talent on the American right.

Finally, these essays prove demonstrably (for those who still need to be convinced) that ideas have consequences. In Spring 2025, they read like an early draft the Trump 2.0 playbook, with many of the ideas proposed in this book playing out in real time. Aggressively shrink the administrative state? Done. Abolish the Department of Education? In progress. Re-imagine GOP foreign policy for the first time since 1950? Complete. The degree to which these exact essays influenced the Administration's policy choices is besides the point; they created the intellectual atmosphere in which those policies could be realised.

I finished the book optimistic. Honest concessions of dismal failures followed by serious reflection on what could be done has contributed to real political change (though the battle to make those changes enduring continues). Would the same be possible in the UK? And would anyone in the Reform leadership even care to listen?

[Drtaxsacto · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a series of essays by conservative thinkers about how to grapple with the slippery landscape of American political thought. The book deals with everything from ART to identity politics, to a host of other topics. In many ways the essays suggest a pessimistic analysis - one author quotes Tallyrand who talking about the Bourbons - They have learned nothing and forgotten nothing. The writers as a group would not be fans of the accommodationists in the conservative movement.

And there are some provactive ideas in here but from my perspective what I got most from the essays is a set of pretty good analysis of the problems facing conservatives and fewer concrete suggestions about how conservatives should deal with the onslaught of progressives and political correctness. Fundamental to any solution is a genuine recognition that the Founders were right - government is not able to solve many of the most stressing problems facing the economy and society today. There is a recognition that a bunch of things which the Civil Service was offered to solve - cronyism and ill preparation have not be improved by having tons of professional (and independent) unelected officials making policy. In spite of the nonsense of Herbert Crowly (Government is different) Nobel Prize winner James Buchanan was right - self interest does not stop with the Administrative State - indeed it is probably masked and strengthened.

[Tyler C · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s hard to review this one as a single, cohesive work since it’s really a collection of essays on a wide range of topics, but in general, it offers a refreshing look at the challenges and opportunities facing the Right today, diagnosing what afflicts the Right (and the US as a whole), and provide the solutions for effective counter-offensive against the Left. Each essay brings its own perspective, and while some feel more like deep dives into specific issues, the overall tone is one of urgency and renewal.

Some parts of the book are already a bit dated, but in the best way possible. We’re thankfully passed the days when peaceful grandmas could be thrown in prison by a vindictive administration, but many serious economic, social, and cultural issues remain that demand attention. Chapters on the Deep State, art and beauty, the myth of a propositional nation, and the administrative state stood out.

What really comes through is how the new Right is starting to get tangible things done in ways the old Right never did. While the previous generation often focused on global influence or abstract ideals, this movement is more practical, strategic, and results-oriented.

Highly recommend this one.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good collection of essays combining theory and policy for a combative Right, from a generally natcon-ish perspective (mostly Claremont folk!) As a policy wonk I wish they didn't bash policy wonks so much, but alas. Out of 19 essays I thought all but 2 were EXCELLENT and even those 2 i mostly was offended by and not fundamentally disagree (no. 9 bashes school choice unnecessarily, and no. 10 seems to argue for more gov. spending to grow the economy? plus no. 16 is mean to lawyers and im sad about that)
Personal favorites were no. 5 on race, no. 13 on the admin state, and no. 17 on immigration.