The Proprietor Review

Conservatism on rise.

Technology often rises with the population being able to flex and look forward instead back.

Symptoms?

This is a complex question with nuances in both politics and economics. The current global landscape suggests that conservatism is on the rise in many parts of the world, and there is an ongoing discussion about whether this trend is stifling innovation.🌎

The Rise of Conservatism

There’s evidence suggesting a global resurgence of conservative and radical right political movements. This rise is attributed to several factors: * Reaction to Globalization: Many people feel alienated by the economic and social changes brought by globalization, leading to support for policies emphasizing national sovereignty and protectionism.

* Emphasis on Traditional Values:

Concerns over cultural identity, immigration, and demographic shifts have fueled support for policies that preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values.

* New Political Paradigms:

The emergence of “National Conservatism” and similar movements focus on reasserting the primacy of national identity and state authority in response to perceived crises of globalization and liberalism.This trend is observable in various nations across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and in some contexts, includes a rise in social and economic conservatism among the electorate.💡

Impact on Innovation

The relationship between rising conservatism and innovation is highly debated, with some research suggesting a potentially negative correlation in certain areas:

* Aversion to Disruption:

Conservatism, by its nature, emphasizes continuity and a preference for established institutions. Innovations that significantly challenge the status quo or disrupt traditional industries and social cohesion may be met with greater resistance from conservative stakeholders. * Moral and Ethical Concerns: Research indicates that conservatives may exhibit lower acceptance of new technology—such as AI, gene editing, or lab-grown meats—when it is perceived as clashing with binding moral foundations (like social order, purity, or tradition).

* Policy and Regulation:

Conservative approaches to policy can affect innovation in different ways: * Some policymakers prioritize a limited government role to allow private business and free markets to flourish and incentivize technological innovation. * Other “anti-tech” conservative movements are willing to use government intervention to regulate or punish “Big Tech,” often driven by concerns over censorship, market power, and the erosion of conservative values. * In the context of local politics, some argue that federal pre-emption of state-level regulations (like on AI) could cripple the ability to develop innovative, evidence-driven approaches, while opponents argue a patchwork of state rules threatens national competitiveness.

* Inventor Mobility:

Studies have suggested that a shift toward a more conservative local ideology can be associated with a reduction in corporate innovation output, possibly through the mobility of innovative talent who may be more left-leaning and prefer to move away from the changing social environment.In summary, while conservatism is demonstrably on the rise globally, whether it is stifling innovation is contingent on the specific policy, the type of innovation (e.g., disruptive vs. incremental), and how that innovation is perceived to align with or threaten existing social and moral orders.The discussion about the global rise of the radical right and its implications for world order provides a useful context for this topic. The Rise of the Radical Right and the Future of World Order touches on the broader ideological project of radical conservatism and its impact on international institutions and cooperation.

Editor’s note:

Nostalgia feels good as a motivator but it’s very hard to live up to and recreate. It is often exaggerated and distorted to fit the mood of the listeners.

Carnegie View