The American Conservative

The American Conservative (TAC) is a magazine published by the American Ideas Institute which was founded in 2002. The publication states that it exists to promote a conservatism that opposes unchecked power in government and business; promote the flourishing of families and communities through vibrant markets and free people; and embrace realism and restraint in foreign affairs based on America's national interests, otherwise known as paleoconservatism.[3] Originally published twice a month, it was reduced to monthly publication in August 2009, and since February 2013, it has been bi-monthly.[4]

The American Conservative
EditorJohn A. Burtka IV (Acting)
CategoriesEditorial magazine
FrequencyBi-monthly
Circulation5,000[1]
PublisherJon Basil Utley[2]
FounderPat Buchanan
Scott McConnell
Taki Theodoracopulos
First issueOctober 7, 2002 (2002-10-07)
CountryUnited States
Based inWashington, D.C., U.S.
LanguageEnglish
Websitetheamericanconservative.com
ISSN1540-966X

History
October 2016 issue

The American Conservative was founded by Pat Buchanan, Scott McConnell and Taki Theodoracopulos in 2002 in opposition to the Iraq War. Daniel Strauss wrote:

The idea of The American Conservative was that there were enough who disagreed with mainstream conservatism—libertarians, paleoconservatives, and civil libertarian conservatives, among other dissenters—to warrant such a publication. While other conservative magazines like National Review and The Weekly Standard marched more or less in lockstep with the Bush Administration, The American Conservative argued for a different course—sometimes with greater ferocity than the major political magazines on the left.[5]

McConnell served as the magazine's first editor, followed by managing editor Kara Hopkins.

Before the 2006 midterm elections, The American Conservative urged its readers to vote for Democrats: "It should surprise few readers that we think a vote that is seen—in America and the world at large—as a decisive “No” vote on the Bush presidency is the best outcome".[6]

As of 2007, Buchanan and Taki ceased to be involved with the editorial operations of The American Conservative, although Buchanan continues to contribute columns.[7] Ron Unz was named publisher in 2007.[8][9] In 2011, Wick Allison became the magazine's publisher, followed in 2013 by Jon Basil Utley, the current publisher.[2]

In 2010, Daniel McCarthy succeeded Kara Hopkins as editor. In September 2011, the magazine introduced an editorial redesign of its print publication and in May 2012 a redesign of its website. In October 2014, Benjamin Schwarz, the former national and literary editor of The Atlantic, was named national editor of the magazine.[10]

In November 2016, Robert W. Merry succeeded McCarthy as editor, with Lewis McCrary and Kelley Beaucar Vlahos as Executive Editors. After Merry's retirement in July 2018, W. James Antle III was named editor.[11]

Reception

In 2009, Reihan Salam, National Review editor,[12] wrote that the publication had "gained a devoted following as a sharp critic of the conservative mainstream".[13]

In 2012, David Brooks, columnist at The New York Times, wrote:

The American Conservative has become one of the more dynamic spots on the political Web. Writers like Rod Dreher and Daniel Larison tend to be suspicious of bigness: big corporations, big government, a big military, concentrated power and concentrated wealth. Writers at that Web site, and at the temperamentally aligned Front Porch Republic, treasure tight communities and local bonds. They’re alert to the ways capitalism can erode community. Dispositionally, they are more Walker Percy than Pat Robertson.[14]

Contributors

Prominent contributors to The American Conservative have included Andrew Bacevich, Doug Bandow, Pat Buchanan, Andrew Cockburn, Rod Dreher, Paul Gottfried, Leon Hadar, Josh Hawley, Peter Hitchens, Samuel P. Huntington, James Kurth, Christopher Layne, Michael Lind, William S. Lind, John Mearsheimer, Rand Paul, Mark Perry, Steve Sailer, Roger Scruton, and Jim Webb.

See also

References
  1. Frank, T.A. (January 25, 2018). "Welcome to the Golden Age of Conservative Magazines". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  2. "Masthead".
  3. "About Us". The American Conservative. February 28, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  4. "Archive". The American Conservative. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  5. Daniel Strauss: The American Conservatives Next Step Archived 2011-08-08 at the Wayback Machine The Campus Progress, March 29, 2009.
  6. "GOP Must Go". The American Conservative. November 20, 2006.
  7. "Patrick J. Buchanan".
  8. Sixsmith, Ben (September 15, 2018). "The curious case of Ron Unz". The Spectator. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  9. "California Anti-Bilingual Proposition King Ron Unz to be Next Publisher of The American Conservative". The Washington Note. March 19, 2007. Archived from the original on March 28, 2007. Retrieved April 10, 2007.
  10. "The American Conservative Names Benjamin Schwarz National Editor". The American Conservative. October 15, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  11. McConnell, Scott (October 15, 2018). "James Antle is New Editor of The American Conservative". The American Conservative. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  12. Salam, Reihan (April 22, 2014). "Is It Racist to Date Only People of Your Own Race?". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  13. Reihan Salam: The Mark Sanford Revolution? The Atlantic, March 13, 2009.
  14. Brooks, David (November 19, 2012). "The Conservative Future". New York Times. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
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