The Reactionary Mind

An examination of the history of conservatism. A major theme is that conservatism does not exist without a liberatory movement to oppose. The conception of politics as a venture in which the average citizen could participate only emerged from the ashes of absolute monarchy. A monarch's authority is tautologically justified: he is the king because he is the king. Only when the populace began to challenge this notion was something more substantial needed, and thus was born what we know today as conservatism.

Similar dynamics are at play today. As marginalized voices receive greater attention, reactionary movements rise to uphold the status quo. This is not to say that movements for equality are to blame for conservatism; rather, reactionaries view gains for egalitarianism as threats to their own positions.