Previously relegated to the wings of the American political stage, conservatism now plays a leading role in public life, thanks largely to the dynamic legacy of Ronald Reagan. But despite conservatism’s emergence as a powerful political force in the last several decades, questions remain about its meaning and nature. In examining these questions, The Future of American Conservatism reveals the forces that unite, and the tensions that divide, conservatives today. Edited by noted Reagan scholar Charles W. Dunn, this volume casts conservatism as a collage of complexity that defies easy characterization.
What They're Saying...
"The publication of this book could not be more timely, as post–Cold War conservatism struggles to define itself in a totally new world marked by entirely new challenges. One would be hard-pressed to find a more worthy collection of observers to grapple with this subject—and in such a thoughtful manner. Dean Dunn has assembled an impressive group of essays by these deans of conservatism."
— Paul Kengor, Professor of Political Science, Grove City College, and author of The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism
"This slim but dense volume includes some very insightful essays about the nature of modern American conservatism and its future potential….The essays as a whole provide a well-balanced look at conservatism."
— M. Coulter, Grove City College
"...blessedly readable, short and hardhitting...it's a great little book."
— Jonah Goldberg, National Review Online
"Dunn’s volume is as smart and stimulating a collection of political essays as I’ve read in years, in part because it soars above the partisan potshots and petty maneuvering that preoccupy the political commentariat. 'Conservatism’s strength has always rested in the realm of ideas,' Dunn writes in his introduction. This bracingly self-critical collection, at least, supports his boast."
— Jonathan Rauch, The New York Times