Postliberalism and the 2024 Election

The label “postliberalism” applies to a developing ecosystem of illiberal ideological thought in the Anglo-American world. The term captures overlapping sets of intellectuals, theorists, political entrepreneurs, and activists who have come to prominence especially since the 2016 US elections. Eight years later, the 2024 US election—most importantly the choice of J. D. Vance as vice presidential candidate for the Republican Party and the subsequent victory of former President Donald Trump—represents a triumphal moment for postliberal thought, not only as a collection of ideas and policy orientations, but also as a network of individuals moving from political marginality to influence. Although ideological trajectories are difficult to predict, it is likely the case that the 2024 election confirms that postliberalism will remain an important part of the broader ideological matrix of the American right for years to come.