Recasting Conservatism
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Oakeshott, Strauss, and the Response to Postmodernism
Robert Devigne
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Devigne argues persuasively that new British and American conservative theories are not merely variants of economic liberalism, but also embody a search for new authoritative political and civil relations, each attempting to modify society's future course with outlooks significantly different from those of their conservative predecessors. He shows that while both theories are responding to similar political problematics, their origins in different political philosophies have contributed to distinct constitutional doctrines and political objectives. Devigne explains how these separate outlooks and goals are rooted in different views on morality, authority, democracy, liberty, justice, community, and religion, and in distinct preferences toward economic, social, and foreign policy. Throughout the book, Devigne situates both theories' positions among the central debates of political philosophy and compares each theory to dominant British and American political outlooks of the past.
"Recasting Conservatism is a wonderfully illuminating account of key differences between modern British and American conservative political thought and the role of the ideas of Oakeshott and Strauss, especially, in generating these differences. Contrasting conservative positions on political centralizations and the relationship of the state to morality, markets, and philosophy itself are all explained with great clarity and force."—Rogers M. Smith
"The descriptions are solid. . . the interested reader, particularly if he is a political scientist, will learn a good deal about conservative theorists and the policies they espouse."—James P. Young, International Studies in Philosophy
Publication Date: August 28, 1996
