When neocon became a slur
“How come you’re so wrong, my sweet neocon?” So asked Mick Jagger on his 2005 album “A Bigger Bang,” and it’s a question many have asked since the Iraq War began. Once a term applied to reform-minded social scientists writing in domestic policy journals like The Public Interest, since the Bush administration neocon is primarily a term of abuse applied to anyone deemed overly hawkish on foreign policy.
\nOn this episode Gary Schmitt discusses his essay in The American Interest in which he traces the evolution of the term, and talks with us about whether neoconservatism is still a viable political philosophy today. We also discuss how the US should view ongoing tensions in Taiwan and Hong Kong, and Max rants about fast-casual restaurants.
\nGary J. Schmitt is a resident scholar in strategic studies at AEI, where he studies national security and longer-term strategic issues affecting America\u2019s security at home and its ability to lead abroad. In addition, Dr. Schmitt directs AEI\u2019s Program on American Citizenship, which focuses on constitutional and civic issues.
\nYou can subscribe to “Banter” on iTunes, Stitcher, or the podcast player of your choice, and archived episodes can be found at www.aei.org/feature/banter. This is Banter episode #373.
\nRelated reading:
\n“Neocon as a slur”
\nIrving Kristol on The Neoconservative Persuasion
\nSweet Neo Con by the Rolling Stones