Successes And Failures Of Neo Conservatism

For hundreds of years, the idea of enforcing or duplicating a nation’s beliefs throughout the world has been present. Recently people have come to know this practice or ideology as neo-conservatism. Neo-conservatism is a prevalent ideology in the American political system. It is a term so specific to the United States that Webster’s Dictionary defines a neo-conservative as “a conservative who advocates the assertive promotion of democracy and United States national interest in international affairs including through military means” (Meriam-Webster Dictionary). This idea of American democracy supremacy in international affairs can be found in both dominant parties of the United States. Many believe that neo-conservatism became a dominant foreign policy ideology during and just after World War II. While neo-conservatism has seen its share of successes, it has also seen many failures and embarrassments.
To understand the foreign policies of neo-conservatism, one must first understand its domestic beliefs. Neo-conservatives are inherently more liberal in their economic beliefs than traditional conservatives. They believe in a need for organized economic reform and want the government to have a large presence in this reform (Silver). Many neo-conservatives are against the idea of a pure-capitalistic market structure; they believe it
creates some who are rich and many who are poor. It is because of this that they push for economic taxes and welfare programs (Silver). They do warn however that these social programs can lead to a sense of dependency.
The main aspect of the neo-conservative’s beliefs is that they have a very bold foreign policy stance.
Neo-conservatives believe that all military power that is available should be used to further the nation’s cause. In America specifically, neo-conservatives strive to promote democracy across the globe, using whatever military means possible (Silver). Many modern neo-conservatives even want America to increase her policing capabilities across the globe (Hunter). Neo-conservatism often strives to increase military spending, with the hopes that those military powers will be used to promote American ideologies around the globe
(Silver).
Neo-conservatism in America can be traced to early colonial theorists, but it is the twentieth century that saw the largest push for a neo-conservative agenda. Early Presidents such as Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Harry Truman wanted America to become a ‘Great’ power and have a larger role on the world stage. During the primary elections of 1948, America choose President Truman who wanted to promote America’s interests in the world, over his opponent Richard Russell who was a more reserved, liberal democrat (Silver). The neo-conservatism movement would then take a blow during Richard Nixon’s presidency where then-Senator Joseph McCarthy would use neo-conservatism as a disguise for his ‘witch-hunt’ to seek those in America he believed were communists and who threatened the well being of America’s interests (Encyclopedia Britannica). Neo-conservatism would then present itself in the foreign policy of Presidents Regan, Bush, and Bush (Encyclopedia Britannica). These Presidents would seek to promote American democracy all over the world, and in many case through military power.
Neo-conservatism has become an important ideology for American foreign policy. Other countries such as Turkey have even begun to show some signs of neo-conservatism. While it may not be the correct ideology, it has shaped the past century of American politics. America has spent much capital and has been involved in many wars because of the ideology. Through neo-conservatism’s role in American politics, neo-conservatism has in turn made an impact on global affairs. Going forward, at least for the time being, neo-conservatism will continue to be a fighting ideology in the debate for American foreign policy.