The article centers on the National Conservatism (NatCon) movement, profiling individuals like Rachel Bovard and figures like Ted Cruz, J.D. Vance, and Josh Hawley. It highlights the movement's core beliefs, which include a deep distrust of the 'woke elite,' comprising corporate, media, political, and academic leaders, perceived as controlling information and culture.
The NatCons believe that this elite uses 'wokeness' to control culture and the economy. They cite examples such as censorship on social media and the perceived influence of 'woke' capitalism.
The NatCon movement's arguments are characterized by a sense of impending doom and a conviction that the left is trying to destroy America. There's an internal debate on the role of classical liberalism. Some believe it can be maintained while others argue that a stronger, more forceful approach is required to combat what they perceive as a Marxist oligarchy.
The movement advocates for a return to traditional values, particularly religious ones. They see the state as an instrument for promoting their values, with Hungary's Viktor Orbán cited as a model.
The article criticizes the NatCon movement for its apocalyptic rhetoric, its use of anecdotal evidence, its misrepresentation of certain issues, and its lack of nuance. It also questions the movement's assertion of Christian dominance in America and its reliance on 'owning the libs' as a primary strategy.
The article concludes that while the NatCons' view of the merging of corporate and cultural elites might be accurate, their apocalyptic vision is overblown. The future of the American right may be a more statist conservatism that combines culture wars with economic populism, potentially leading to a new political landscape.