The National Conservatism Conference kicked off smoothly on Monday, 8 July in Washington, D.C. This comes in stark contrast to the more tumultuous atmosphere in Brussels, where leftist protests were held against the national conservatism movement and there were even attempts to ban the event.
Welcoming the participants, Christopher DeMuth delivered an inspiring speech, highlighting Viktor Orbán as an exemplary figure from whom conservatives can learn.
DeMuth emphasized the core principles of national conservatism: advocating for sovereign nations with secure borders, promoting welfare for all citizens, and ensuring a government actively concerned with maintaining a healthy culture. Over the past five years, the movement has gained significant traction, he reminded, noting that it is now achieving success in the voting booths and is becoming mainstream. DeMuth also underscored the movement’s alignment with the Freedom Conservatism Statement of Principles.
In his remarks DeMuth touched on the societal shift towards ‘feminized individual autonomy,’ contrasting it with the need for new forms of activism. He referenced a vivid scene from Brussels, where a cardinal, a princess, and an MP were smuggled out of the sealed off NatCon venue next to a garbage can while police were distracted, illustrating the chaotic nature of contemporary political activism.
He also highlighted that criticism from the outside can in fact be empowering.
To illustrate this with a metaphor, he remarked that the movement has evolved from individual wolves to packs howling at the moon, referring to the unity and strength in numbers.
Although there is clearly nothing extreme about what national conservatism advocates, across both Europe and the United States left-liberal attacks on conservatism are fierce, with frequent accusations of fascism and far-right extremism. Several attendees reflected on this hostility towards national conservatism movement, also recalling the protests in Brussels, where national conservatives were labelled as a ‘hate group’, with the accusation that it is promoting a white ethno-state. One NatCon guest humorously countered this by saying the only time people could feel threatened was the speech about common good conservatism, with the risk of ‘dying of boredom’. Viktor Orbán’s name often comes up when national conservatism is smeared. He is regularly described on the left as far-right, just for advocating for strict immigration control, strong economic safety nets, and the revival of faith and family values.
The National Conservatism Conference in Washington, D.C. began on a note of optimism and determination. Christopher DeMuth’s speech set a tone of resilience and collective purpose for the days ahead.
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