The past three decades have witnessed a conservative revolution in American politics. Republicans have gained control of the presidency for most of this period and, in the decade following the 1994 midterm elections, controlled the Congress and most of the statehouses. Moreover, a number of conservative policy think tanks have been highly influential in shaping the debates over social and economic policy. This sea change in American politics has had profound implications for a host of public policies (including economic policy, educational reform, welfare reform, and foreign policy). To what extent have Republican victories constituted victories for conservatism? In light of the 2006 midterm elections and the 2008 presidential election, has the conservative movement run its course? Can it accommodate broader changes in American society, culture, and public opinion? It is the core assumption of this course that one cannot understand contemporary politics and the prospects for a resurgent liberalism without understanding the rise of conservatism and the principles underlying the arguments and reforms promoted by its key figures. |