The Neo Conservatives in America
(Summary)
by Junnosuke Shibu
1, Words and Background knowledge
First of all, Neo conservative is the people who changed their thinking from liberal to conservative. That’s why they are called “neo” conservative .Their ideology is conservative .For example, they don’t want big welfare projects.
Their origin is in 1960’s. The professor Irving Kristi is their origin. I call Irving Kristi and other neo-conservative origin “first generation of neo-con”.
On the other hand, people who promote Iraq war at the White house in 2003 are also called Neo conservative, such as, Paul Ｗolfowits, Donald Ramsfeld. I call them “second generation of neo-con”.
Then. Second generation is little difference with first generation .The difference is that, first generations agree with a invasion of foreign country, but second generation have never thought that. The idea of second generation is so aggressive about the policy of diplomacy. Then, I have some questions.
.①Do they have the same ideology with their origin? Are they really neo-conservative? ②Why they are so changed ? It’s my question.
２, Answer to my first question
My first question is that are second generation really neo-conservative?
I picked up follow 4 factor of first generation from Irving Kristl. The 4 factors are follows.
①One , they believe the democracy ,and human right .
②Two , they don’t believe international organization in the case of security of America.
③Three , they think they can use the military power to spread the moral .
④Four , their origin is Reo Sutraus , the philosopher in 1950’s
And the representation of second generation, Paul wolfowits has these 4 factors, according to his interview and articles. So the second generations are really neo-conservative.
3, Answer to my second question
Second generation are surely one of the neo-conservative .But, they are more aggressive than their origin, in particular, in the field of the diplomacy. On the other hands, first generation has never thought the attack foreign country to change the regime.
Then, my second question is that, why neo-con- custom change their mind, and attack Iraq? I point out follow two factors.
①First , the end of the Cold war . Cold war finished in 1990, and America has a great power in the world. This situation change cause the neo-con- custom thinks the Iraq war.
②Second , the movement of conservative .In America, in 1990’s there was the big movement of conservative. In particular, the elections in 1994, conservative get the majority position in the House of Representatives. So, conservative people get the great influence in politics .And second generation took advantage of that movement .So they can realize their ideal in real politics.
Questions and Answers Session summerized by U4 Rika Kobata
Q: In your presentation, you used the word “neo-con-custom”. What do you mean by that?
A: I used the word “neo-con-custom” to mean the neo-con in 2000’s, represented by Paul Wolfowits. This is different from the original neo-conservative in 1960’s. I wanted to express this difference.
Q: Why did you put the national flag of Japan on your first slide?
A: It is not the national flag of Japan, but the earth. The image of the earth turned black through the projector. So, it looks like the national flag of Japan.
Q: In your presentation, you said “the United Union”. Is it the United Nations?
A: Yes, it was my mistake.
Q: In your presentation, you mentioned four common characteristics of the neo-conservative. Who said that?
A: Francis Fukuyama and more other experts and jpurnalists.
Q: Do you agree with this definition?
A: Yes, I do.
Q: There are also many different ideas. You should refer to other definitions in your thesis and explain why you choose the definition.
Q: In your conclusion, you said “change” of the neo-conservative. What kind of change happened? Ideological change or change in the situation?
A: I mean the neo-conservative in 2000’s became more radical and aggressive than the original neo-conservative. The original neo-conservative never sought invasion, but the neo-conservative in 2000’s seeks to invade other countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq. This is the change which I said in my conclusion.
Q1: But in1960’s, there was a big war, the Vietnam War. What do you think about it?
Q2 How did the original neo-conservative think about the Vietnam War? You should compare the old neo-conservative and new neo-conservative, and make the difference between them clear in your next presentation or graduation thesis.
A: I will explain it in my next presentation.
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