Serious question. The most common definition I know of associates the neocons with the Project for a New American Century, and their disastrous doctrine of American hegemony. The dominance of PNACs in the Bush Admin has led to the practical definition of neocons as Bushies. OTOH, that BBC documentary fixes the origin of neoconservatism much earlier, with Leo Strauss in the late 1940s.
Personally, I think the former definition is more accurate. Straus is probably to blame for "modern conservatism", the post WWII variety; and I'd define neoconservatism as the combination of the doctrine of an authoritarian executive that became popular in the 80s coupled with the expansionist ambitions of PNAC in the early 90s. That makes neocons only a subset of Republicans, as I don't see any commonality at all between neoconservatism and social and religious conservatism.
How do you define neoconservatism?
Current Events » in reply to re: Don't ya just love people who think they know what "neocon" means?
What does 'neocon' mean?
The whole thread (30 posts)
- Kerry endorses Obama?!
- Well, they both have that ashen-faced zombified look.
- Kiss of death?
- I dont think edwards was on his speed dial
- And where the heck was Kerry a week ago when Obama could have used it? (n/t)
- I thought you thought that Kerry was a doofus.
- Don't ya just love neocons commenting on Democratic politics?
- And where the heck was Kerry a week ago when Obama could have used it? (n/t)