Rise of the New Right in the 1970s and 1980s - Essay Example

Johnson, galvanized the formation of a new political movement. In elite think-tanks and local community organizations alike, new policies, marketing strategies, and electoral strategies were crafted over the succeeding details. The New Right succeeded in building a policy approach and electoral apparatus that propelled Ronald Reagan into the White House in the 1980 presidential election. The American New Right is distinct from and opposed to the more moderate tradition of the so-called Rockefeller Republicans.

The New Right also differs from the Old Right on issues concerning foreign policy with the New Right being opposed to the non-interventionism of the Old Right" (Kotlowitz, 1999). There are many different issues within the New Right that are relevant and significant, and the aim of this paper is to address and discuss the social, political and economic conditions that contributed to the actual rise of the New Right in the 1970s and 1980s. By doing this, we will be able to gain a much more informed and knowledgeable understanding on the subject matter at hand overall, particularly in regards to the important matter of the rise of the New Right in the United States.

This is what will be dissertated in the following. There were really a number of different factors which contributed to the rise of the New Right in the 1970s and 1980s, and since the 1980. In order to be able to truly and properly characterize such an incredible shift primarily in terms of the conspiratorial maneuvering of an otherwise tightly kept and organized New Right seems relatively tempting, however still rather simplistic at the same time, considering the fact that there is a certain pervasiveness to the rightward pull.

After all, if we really think about it and properly consider all of the present facts, what we are seeing in regards to this matter is not just that of a well-orchestrated right-wing offensive, but as well it is actually the demise of the liberal state overall, and not only that but some of its more progressive ideas as well. This includes some of the most major and significant progressive ideas of all, such as equality, individual freedom, and social welfare needs, for example. Clearly then the New Right is not at all alone in regards to the abandoning of liberalism, and in fact the dogma which refers to the issue of how social programs, particularly those for the poorer people, tend to represent a certain intrusiveness by the state and are really emanated from the Moral Majority, for the most part.

It also must be known that the evidence which has been shown, especially over recent years in particular, is truly unimpeachable, and that "the political right in America no longer stands for individual rights, limited government and capitalism. The 'rightists' now advocate expanding the welfare state, increasing government intrusion into our intimate private affairs, and sacrificing American lives to foreign paupers. They call it 'advancing the cause of freedom'" (Kotlowitz, 1999). In other words, one of the most major and significant aspects which contributed to the rise of the New Right is