New Right

                The New Right emerged during the 1960s as a reaction to the dominance of social liberalism within the states. It opposed the massive increase in the scope and scale of the federal government under the Johnson administration, and sought to counter the emergence of the permissive society. The New Right argued that an expansion in the role of government was un-American. It undermined the whole idea of personal responsibility, and created a dependency culture in which people saw themselves as victims in need of help rather than individuals free to live out the American Dream. The New Right also claimed that society was being undermined by a variety of progressive forces ranging from feminism to gay liberation. The mission statement of the New Right could be said to 'rescue America from the moral pollution of liberal-secularism.'

                As the term implies, the New Right seeks to inject a new energy and direction into right-wing ideology. There are two broad elements to this. Firstly, the New Right adopts a libertarian view on economic policy. This school of thought favors policies such as privatization and de-regulation, claiming that the marketplace should be liberated from the dead hand of the state. In doing so, they share much ground with classical liberals (M. Friedman, 1980). In terms of social issues, the New Right is opposed to social liberalism. It seeks to emphasize traditional family values in order to restore a sense of personal responsibility.

                A key moment in the development of the New Right occurred during the candidacy of Barry Goldwater in 1964. Although heavily defeated in that particular election, his small government philosophy had a significant and lasting impact upon the Republican Party. Goldwater claimed that years of social liberalism had gradually eroded the moral fiber of the country. He also argued that the actions of the federal government had contributed to high levels of inflation. As with many visionaries, Goldwater offered a package that was years ahead of its time. By 1968, Richard Nixon incorporated several elements of New Right thinking into his ultimately successful bid for the presidency. The language he adopted whilst campaigning (emphasizing the law-abiding silent majority) appealed to a vast swathe of the electorate who felt uneasy at the rapid changes that swept through the country during the turbulent 1960s.

                The New Right maintained its influence within the GOP during the 1970s, but it took the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 to mark a turning point in its fortunes. The Reagan administration boldly sought to implement a full-scale conservative revolution. Gone were the days of liberal-lite governance in the style of Eisenhower and Nixon. Reagan exemplified the new southern-fried Bible-quoting Republican who believed passionately in New Right philosophy. Under the Reagan (and Bush senior) years the New Right was the dominant intellectual force in the states. The role of the state within the economy was rolled back, taxes were reduced and traditional values were very much the order of the day. The conservative revolution was maintained under George W. Bush, primarily with the emphasis upon religious values. However, Bush junior greatly expanded the role of the state. Indeed, the increase in federal spending was higher than at any time since the 1970s.

                The New Right remains a salient force within the Republican Party on the basis of social conservatism and fiscal conservatism. The Tea party movement is certainly a reflection of New Right thinking, principally in terms of seeking to lower government spending. Many within the Tea Party also seek to reassert traditional moral values, although the primary focus of the movement is upon economic policy. Whilst it supporters would claim the organization brings together true patriots, it opponents claim that the Tea Party represents a reaction against the country America is becoming; one that is less Christian, less white and above all less homogenous.