What is National Conservatism?
National conservatism is a form of conservatism that treats the nation as the central unit of political life. It holds that independent nation-states, each with its own culture, language, religion and history, are the best basis for freedom and self-government. National conservatives are skeptical of international institutions that limit national decision-making, of free trade that weakens domestic industry and of high immigration. Unlike free-market conservatives, many are willing to use state power in the economy and culture to protect what they see as the national interest.
Core beliefs
- The independent nation-state is the main source of political loyalty and legitimacy.
- National sovereignty should not be given up to international bodies.
- A shared national culture, often with religious roots, holds society together.
- Immigration should be controlled and newcomers expected to integrate.
- Trade and industrial policy should protect domestic jobs and strategic industries.
- The family and traditional morality deserve public support.
History
Ideas linking conservatism and the nation are old. Edmund Burke saw the nation as a partnership between the dead, the living and the unborn. In the nineteenth century, Benjamin Disraeli joined Conservative politics with national pride and social reform. In post-war France, Charles de Gaulle led a movement that stressed national independence, a strong executive and distance from both superpowers. In the late twentieth century, the British philosopher Roger Scruton argued that a national loyalty based on shared territory and culture was needed for democracy to work. As a named movement, national conservatism became more visible in Europe and the United States in the 2010s, in response to globalization, the 2008 financial crisis, migration debates and disputes over European integration. A conference series under that name began in 2019.
Variants
In Europe, national conservatism often focuses on sovereignty within or against the European Union, on immigration and on the role of national churches. In the United States, it often focuses on trade protection, industrial policy and cultural questions. Some national conservatives are close to Christian democracy on family policy, while others are more secular and focus mainly on sovereignty. The line between national conservatism and right populism is often blurred, though national conservatism is usually more focused on ideas and institutions than on anti-elite rhetoric.
Criticisms
Critics on the left argue that national conservatism can exclude ethnic and religious minorities and immigrants, and that its focus on national culture can weaken equal rights. Classical liberals and libertarians argue that its support for tariffs and industrial policy expands state power and harms consumers. Supporters of international cooperation argue that problems such as climate change, pandemics and security require shared institutions that national conservatives distrust. Some political scientists also raise concerns that strong executive power can weaken checks and balances.
In practice
National conservative ideas have influenced governing and opposition parties in several European countries and in the United States. Policies associated with it include tighter immigration controls, tariffs and support for domestic manufacturing, family benefits aimed at raising birth rates, constitutional language on national identity or religion, and resistance to further transfers of power to international bodies.