[lbo-talk] Neoconservatism as identifiable ideology

[Grant Lee]

I just wanted to point out, as an aside, that "neoconservative" is a term
rarely used outside North America. This is probably because neocon is seen
elsewhere simply as a right variant of neoliberalism (e.g. Pinochet and
Thatcher). It seems to me, therefore, that "neoconservative" stems from
origins as reaction to the unique N.American conception of "liberal", which
by the late 1960s had become synonymous with statism, "Keynesianism", social
engineering, etc. In other parts of the developed world, the latter role
tended to taken by taken by social democratic/socialist/labour parties,
whereas "Liberal" parties outside N.America were closer to the centre/right
(e.g. Japan).

To cite an example I know better than others, the main _right_ party in
Australia since WW2 has been the Liberal Party. For all intents and purposes
(and totally contrary to e.g. the Canadian Liberal Party) it is virtually
identical to "conservative" parties elsewhere. The present PM, John Howard
once said that he was "a conservative in social policy and a liberal in
economic policy".

(With Howard's retirement imminent, a succession crisis looms involving
"wet" and "dry" candidates, represented respectively by Peter Costello and
Tony Abbott, a conservative Catholic and free market ideologue. For more
details: Greg Barns, April 24 2003, "Is this the end of the liberal party?",
Melbourne Age
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/04/23/1050777301768.html )