What is neo-conservatism, and what impact has it had on US foreign policy Free Essay Example, 2500 words

This is what separates neo-cons from traditional conservatives† (Atkins advocating tax reductions for the wealthy and an attack-first, ask questions later mentality. We will write a custom essay sample on What is neo-conservatism, and what impact has it had on US foreign policy or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Though domestic issues were once a rallying point then abandoned by contemporary neo-cons, foreign-policy matters invoked the most emotion therefore attention from this group. They reasoned then, as they do now, that foreign affairs were a more important consideration for national discussion because the very survival of the nation was at stake. â€Å"If a domestic policy fails, you can try another. If a foreign policy fails, you may find yourself at war† (Muravchik, 2007). The Vietnam War sharply divided the country but neo-cons, even the ones who were less than hawkish, were always on the defensive regarding the consequences of losing to communism. When war opponents voiced the opinion that communism wasn’t the most imperative concern, that American imperialism and expansionistic tendencies were the big issue, neo-cons were quick to rebuke what they thought was unpatriotic rhetoric. They feared the proliferation of communism and argued this fear was not unfounded. President Jimmy Carter believed the neo-cons were overly paranoiac and suffered from an ‘inordinate fear of Communism. ’ The leader of the neo-con agenda during the 1980’s, Ronald Reagan, won this group’s admiration by calling the former Soviet Union the â€Å"evil empire†, a nation to be feared and opposed very much in contradiction with the approach of the Carter administration.