Neoconservatism combines conservative views on social order and markets with a belief that democratic powers should actively promote their values abroad, including by force when necessary.
Key thinkers:George Washington, Cicero, Ludwig ErhardTake the test and your match with Neoconservatism shows up here. It is worked out in your browser and never sent anywhere.
Neoconservatives arose among US intellectuals who left the political left in the 1960s and 1970s. They stress American leadership, military strength and the spread of democracy, and are suspicious of détente and of international institutions.
The approach was influential in US foreign policy in the early 2000s, notably around the Iraq War.
The ideas that most people in this tradition would sign up to.
It emerged in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s around thinkers such as Irving Kristol and Norman Podhoretz.
Thinkers whose documented positions on the 12 axes align most closely with this ideology.
First US president · 1732–1799
The commander of the Continental Army and first US president, who set precedents for the office and stepped down after two terms.
“Presided over the Constitutional Convention and, in his 1783 Circular to the States, named an indissoluble union as the first essential of well-being.”
Roman orator & statesman · 106–43 BC
A Roman lawyer, consul and orator who wrote on republican government and natural law, and who was killed on Mark Antony’s orders.
“De Officiis ranks the claims of country above those of family and friends, and he defends Rome’s empire as just rule, even as he writes of a universal natural law.”
German economics minister & chancellor · 1897–1977
The West German economics minister and later chancellor who lifted price controls in 1948 and promoted the “social market economy”, competition backed by social provision.
“Was deeply critical of integrating Europe through bureaucratic institutions on the Coal and Steel Community model.”
These are its strongest leanings, followed by all twelve axes. They describe the typical version of the tradition.
Leans very strongly toward Militarist
88% toward Militarist
Leans very strongly toward Democratic
85% toward Democratic
Leans toward Privatize
68% toward Privatize
Editorial estimates for comparison and discussion. Real people and parties in this tradition vary.
Countries whose estimated profile is most like this ideology. No country follows a single ideology, so read this as a comparison, not a label.
Every tradition has critics. These are the objections most often raised.
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The test scores you on all twelve axes and ranks every ideology by how well it matches you.
