Conservatism in a Divided America

George Hawley is associate professor of political science at the University of Alabama. He is the author of a number of books, including The Moderate Majority, Making Sense of the Alt-Right, and Right-Wing Critics of American Conservatism.

"I applaud this kind of candor, and the nuanced, empirically-informed analytical frame that Hawley brings to bear on his subject matter. His engaging intellectual and social scientific tour de force helps the reader grasp how the new generation of conservatives and classical liberals is building on the foundations laid by previous generations." —Law & Liberty"Overall, this is one of the most comprehensive, data driven looks at modern conservatism written in the past decades, an amazing addition to a stellar career." -Maiseh Review"[Hawley] builds a scrupulous case. This has the power to change minds." —Publishers Weekly"Hawley is a careful, cautious internal critic of U.S. conservatism. He argues that partisan 'identity politics' is pervasive among present-day conservatives, despite their insistence that liberals are the ones to politicize race, gender, and other aspects of identity." —Library Journal"In a work that will interest students of both political theory and public opinion, Hawley examines the evolving meanings of conservatism and, specifically, its complicated history with the idea of 'identity politics.'" —Choice"George Hawley has already distinguished himself as one of the leading scholars of polarization, ideology, and American conservatism. But in Conservatism in a Divided America, Hawley has exceeded his own standard of excellence. In the era of identity politics and wokeness, this book is by far his most insightful—and provocative." —Jesse Merriam, Patrick Henry College"In this balanced, profound, and honest book, George Hawley delves into the history of American conservatism and traces its development from an intellectual enterprise to a real-world movement. If, as argued by Hawley, the call of identity in American politics is unlikely to fade, Conservatism in a Divided America provides a gentle warning to not dismiss its implications for the future of American politics—and conservatism itself—in the twenty-first century." —José Pedro Zúquete, author of The Identitarians"Hawley argues that many conservatives are ill-equipped to deal with identity issues largely because of their adherence to an outdated and inadequate 'canon' of conservative movement literature that was largely produced in the 1950s and 1960s." —D. J. Mulloy, author of The World of the John Birch Society

• AcknowledgementsIntroduction1. Conservatism and other Concepts2. Conservative Arguments against Identity Politics3. Conservative Explanations for Identity Politics4. Conservatism and the Civil Rights Movement5. Conservatism and Feminism6. Conservatism and Immigration and National Identity7. Partisan Politics as Identity Politics by another Name8. Lessons from the Alt-Right's Rise and FallConclusion: Conservatism beyond 2020