Post-WWII Neo-Conservatism: Themes, and Influence on US Politics

This essay explores the major themes of neo-conservatism that emerged after World War II, highlighting its departure from traditional right-wing and left-wing ideologies. It emphasizes the belief in military strength for achieving peace and a strong centralized government. The essay further discusses how neo-conservatism influenced American political thought, particularly in advocating for military action, illustrated by the response to the 9/11 attacks. This shift marked a significant change from the traditionally liberal and decentralized ideals of the Founding Fathers. Desklib offers more resources for students studying political science.

Running head: NEO CONSERVATISM AFTER SECOND WORLD WAR
Neo Conservatism after Second World War
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Author Note

1NEO CONSERVATISM AFTER SECOND WORLD WAR
Discuss the major themes of the new conservatism that emerged after WW II?
The Second World War brought about many changes in the nation states of the
world, both physically and politically. It led to the birth pf many new states of the
world as well as the introduction of many new political ideologies (Peleg, 2018).
Before the Second World War, the world was mainly familiar with two ideologies,
that is of the right wing conservative ideology and that of the left wing liberal
ideology. In the course of the war, both the ideologies saw a massive change where by
a new political thought emerged known as neo conservatism (Thompson, 2015). This
political thought pointed to an inter mixing of both the two right wing and left wing
ideologies in the sense that it includes elements of both the thought process. After the
end of the Second World War, many countries, especially that of the United States of
America became disillusioned with the idea of peaceful democracy (Pan & Turner,
2017). They were of the idea that a new political ideology was required. One of the
major themes of the new kind of conservatism that emerged after the end of the
Second World War is that it believed in the necessity of military forces for achieving
the objectives of peace and harmony (Thompson, 2015). Moreover, its advocators
believed in a strong centralized government system who would be able to under take
concrete actions and measures for the fulfillment of their demands and desires. This
was considered necessary in the view that the welfare of the people would be
maintained if there is a strong centralized state structure that had democratic ideals.
What did these conservatives add to American political thought?
American political thought was distinctively liberal in nature.The Founding
Fathers of the Constitution of the United States of America believed in structuring a
state which would adhere strictly to the ideals of democracy and would advocate for
the establishment of a decentralized set up of the state (Pan & Turner, 2017).

2NEO CONSERVATISM AFTER SECOND WORLD WAR
Moreover, the state would follow a liberal capitalist ideology. However, with the
introduction of the neo conservative ideology within the American society, a great
change was observed (Pan & Turner, 2017). The new ideology of neo conservatism
added the support for military action in the American political thought. People now
believed that military forces would be the answer to the existing situation of crisis.
For instance, in the event of 9/11 attack on the Twin Trade Towers of America, the
people of America and even the state leaders, advocated for a military action against
the state of Iraq (McKoy, 2017). They were of the idea that their problems would be
solved if a stringent course of action is taken whereby the military is used to prevent
the growth of the terrors of war. In this respect, the basic fundamental American
political thought changed with the introduction of the neo conservatism thought
within the societal structure of America (Pan & Turner 2017).

3NEO CONSERVATISM AFTER SECOND WORLD WAR
References:
McKoy, M., (2017). Neoconservatism: A Death Prematurely Foretold?. In Rethinking
Security in the Twenty-First Century(pp. 279-288). Palgrave Macmillan, New York.
Pan, C. & Turner, O., (2017). Neoconservatism as discourse: Virtue, power and US
foreign policy. European journal of international relations, 23(1), pp.74-96.
Peleg, I., (2018). The legacy of George W. Bush's foreign policy: moving beyond
neoconservatism. Routledge.
Thompson, C.B., (2015). Neoconservatism: an obituary for an idea. Routledge.