Kenneth Minogue, Conservatism, and the Challenge of the Reactionary Global Right

Abstract The reactionary global Right is a pervasive phenomenon characterized by an overarching goal of developing a counter-hegemonic strategy to challenge the liberal-dominated practices and institutions of the contemporary Western world. Although this reactionary global Right is not a unified movement, initiatives like the National Conservatism conference seek to build a transnational coalition. It is undeniable that its adherents represent a potent political force whose influence is steadily growing. Despite the pressing challenges posed by the reactionary global Right, traditional Western political doctrines, particularly conservatism, appear largely ill-equipped to respond effectively to both the movement and the concerns it raises. In some instances, the movement even presents itself as the future of conservatism, exacerbating the significance and urgency of the dilemma faced by contemporary conservative thought. This article contends that Kenneth Minogue’s conservative realism offers valuable insights for shaping the future of conservatism, steering it away from the allure of radicalism embraced by certain factions of the Right in response to an increasingly estranged world. It pursues this argument by examining Minogue’s engagement with the core ideas of the reactionary global Right, noting his sympathy towards their concerns while distancing himself from their proposed solutions. Ultimately, the article claims that Minogue’s perspective offers a robust framework for a civil conservatism that not only addresses the shortcomings of contemporary conservative responses to the reactionary global Right but also preserves core conservative ideas while charting a viable path forward for the future of conservative politics.