Anti-Governmentism in Conservative Thought: A Note on Garnett’s Conception of Religious Freedom
Anti-Governmentism in Conservative Thought: A Note on Garnett’s Conception of Religious Freedom
This chapter argues that the essence of at least one important wing of American conservatism is “anti-governmentism,” a striking deviation from the calls for “law and order” that some might identify with conservatism. Strong anti-government conservatives see government as, on the one hand, too intrusive and powerful, and on the other, as corrupt, biased, weak/inept, and alien. Looking at the last chapter’s strong defense of religious freedom, this chapter comments that the capacity to achieve one’s religion—to be religiously free—essentially requires positive government involvement to make space available. Thus, religious freedom and anti-governmentism are fundamentally incompatible demands: the flourishing of religious freedom cannot rely on weak government.
Keywords: American conservatism, anti-governmentism, religious freedom, conservatism, weak government
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