Paleoconservatism (sometimes shortened to
paleocon) is a term for a
conservative political philosophy found primarily
in the United States stressing
tradition,
limited government,
civil society,
anti-colonialism,
anti-corporatism and
anti-federalism, along with religious, regional, national and
Western identity.
[1] Chilton Williamson, Jr. describes paleoconservatism as "the expression of rootedness: a sense of place and of history, a sense of self derived from forebears, kin, and culture an identity that is both collective and personal".
[2] Paleoconservatism is not expressed as an
ideology and its adherents do not necessarily subscribe to any one party line
[3] although critics have disputed this.
[4]
Paleoconservatives in the 21st century often highlight their points of disagreement with
neoconservatives, especially regarding issues such as military interventionism,
illegal immigration and large amounts of legal
immigration,
multiculturalism,
affirmative action, and foreign
aid, to which they are opposed.
[1] They also criticize
social welfare and
social democracy, which some refer to as the "therapeutic
managerial state",
[5] the "welfare-warfare state"
[6] or "polite totalitarianism".
[7] They see themselves as the legitimate heirs to the American conservative tradition.
[8]