What Exactly Is A Neoconservative?
Is there one single definition for the word "neoconservative"? The term has exploded in usage lately. I think we can generally agree on who the neocon ringleaders are, but I've noticed a couple of different usages, and would like to know if anyone could correct me on any of them.
The only formal definition of "neoconservative" I've read was in a Salon article by Michael Lind in April: "They are called 'neoconservatives' because many of them started off as anti-Stalinist leftists or liberals before moving to the far right." He then goes on to trace a rather specific path of development from Trotskyism in the '30s through "anti-communist liberalism" and all the way to a right-wing "Wilsonianism" with flavors of Trotsky and the Likud Party. Is this really where the term got its start? Does anyone have this usage in mind when they use the term?
I recently listened to the audiobook version of "What Liberal Media?" by Eric Alterman. His usage of "neoconservative" seems to be similar to Lind's, without the narrow historical specifics. By my understanding, Alterman uses the word to refer to journalists and cultural critics who used to be left of center, but who have jumped on the liberal-bashing media bandwagon, and can be "hard" or "soft" neoconservative depending on their level of zeal. By this definition, I guess that Dennis Miller would fit the bill of late.
But the way "neoconservative" is used lately usually seems to be in relation to the term that David Frum recently coined: "paleoconservative". In this popular usage, "neoconservative" refers to the extremist right-wing ideology of the current Republican leadership which, though it sprung out of the conservative movement, isn't conservative at all in any traditional sense (in that radicalism is, by definition, not conservative). This definition seems to be the dominant one. Does anyone check to see whether or not a Republican extremist once had liberal or leftist credentials before refering to him as a neoconservative?
I just hate to misuse words out of ignorance. If anyone's got any insights on this subject, I'd appreciate the info. Thanks.
9:37:20 AM 
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