[Serious] Any high-quality right-wing media, books, explainers?

I know Lemmy isn't normally the best place to search for this, but are there any high-quality right-wing explainers, or modern books, or media outlets?

I myself am ultra-left (quite literally communist, to the dictionary sense of the word), but I'd like to quit the bubble that inevitably forms around and look at good arguments of the opposing side, if there are any.

Is there anything in there beyond temporarily embarrassed millionaires and fears that trans people will destroy humanity? Is there rational analysis, something closer to academic research, behind modern ideas of laissez-faire capitalism and/or political conservatism?

I've tried outlets like PragerU, but they are so basic they seem to target a very uncritical audience.

I'd like to see the world in the eyes of an enlightened right-winger, and see where they possibly fail (or if suddenly they have valid arguments).

theywilleatthestars ,

Probably more right-wing than you're looking for, but The Concept of the Political by Carl Schmitt. Insightful on how these people think, and much more readable than works by some Nazi philosophers I could mention.
Also if you're interested in a good deconstruction of far right views, I highly recommend Neoreaction a Basilisk by Elizabeth Sandifer

Allero OP ,

Thanks!

rufus ,

Maybe read something from Jordan Peterson? He's conservative, against gender politics or modern life. Sells 'simple truths' that look well reasoned if you're not too intelligent (or don't believe in equality...) I think he wrote several books and has lots of YouTube videos available.

Allero OP ,

Peterson seemed more pretentious than competent to me.

As you well said, "look well-reasoned if you're not too intelligent"

But thanks!

sailingbythelee ,

It partly depends on whether you want to understand pre-9/11 "reasonable" conservatism or the more recent Tea Party and Trump conservative populism.

Ayn Rand expresses the fairy tale version of romantic, rugged individualism, which is pretty important to understanding modern right-wing politics, especially in North America. I think the main idea conservatives take from her work, directly or indirectly, is that progress is driven by individual work and achievement, and that any kind of forced wealth re-distribution (through social programs, for example) is effectively theft, and therefore immoral.

The modern populist right-wing movement was originally driven and disseminated by right-wing talk radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh. So, listening to right-wing talk radio or podcasts is also a good window into the modern movement. It puts on full display the resentment felt by modern right-wingers.

If you would rather not experience right-wing media directly, but would rather read rational analysis about it, then one good choice is David Frumm. He is an old school Reagan/Bush conservative, and has lived through the transition of the Repubs to populism. He is very critical of Trumpism, like most people, but he comes from the perspective of a reasonable and well-informed conservative insider.

Fareed Zakaria has a new book called Age of Revolutions, which views modern conservative populism as a very significant political re-alignment with similarities to various revolutions of the past, both successful and unsuccessful. Fareed talks about the conditions that lead to populism. In that sense, he treats Trump's popularity as a symptom and outcome of specific underlying societal problems.

Allero OP ,

Thank you! I'd like to understand both, really, though my first concern is about modern, "Trump" conservatism.

grue ,

If I recall from the Alt-Right Playbook's Origins of Conservatism video, some of the early founders of conservative thought you might want to read include:

  • Edmund Burke
  • Thomas Hobbes
  • Joseph DeMaistre
Allero OP ,

Thanks!

gregorum ,
@gregorum@lemm.ee avatar

All of that guys videos are extremely well sourced. You can find a lot of good links in the descriptions of his videos.

DonnieDarkmode ,

Not a right-wing source in and of itself, but Corey Robin’s The Reactionary Mind explores the history and philosophical underpinnings of conservative thought from Burke/Hobbes on through the 21st century, on a variety of different topics. It’s a serious engagement with the ideas, and attempt to understand them and their origins

Allero OP ,

Great! Something to definitely check out
Thanks

ArcaneSlime ,

Here's an audio copy of Murray Rothbard's Man, Economy, and State. Murray is basically the father of "right wing" libertarianism (insofar as right v left is individualism v collectivism, not "right=racism is good,") he seems to fit the description you seek. Not saying you'll agree or love him, but he isn't some "lets kill the gays" nonsense.

Also try Milton Friedman, and Lysander Spooner. They're more "anarchism" or "libertarianism" as well, from that same individualist, rather than collectivist, standpoint.

Allero OP ,

I'm not here to love these people, I'm here to hear them out :D
Thanks!

Siegfried ,

Please dont have sex with milton, ok?

Alimentar ,

I find the Austrian School of Economics really interesting.

Particularly books written by American economist Murray Rothbard, who talks about free markets, government (particularly government intervention) and inflation.

There's a very short book you can read called "What has Government Done to Our Money?”

Allero OP ,

Thanks!

tjhart85 ,
@tjhart85@kbin.social avatar

I don't know if you like podcasts, but Know Your Enemy is a take on the right from two leftists who used to be conservatives who approach it from an intellectual POV.

I linked to the political magazine that helps support them since it gives some rundowns of their topics that might give you some of the sources that can be read instead of listening to their podcast, if you'd prefer.

Allero OP ,

Sounds like a great find! Thank you

Meron35 ,

A lot of the academics associated (formerly or currently) with Chicago Booth are highly respected as economists but highly conservative. As influential and famous they may be, their personal blogs and twitter account are yikes.

E.g. Harald Uhlig, Joch H Cochrane

Allero OP ,

Thanks!
If I'm not mistaken, Thomas Sowell, who is often cited under the post, changed to the right-wing after discussions with Chicago students - must be quite solid.

juicy ,

So I'm going to interpret your request broadly and recommend a couple podcasts. They aren't necessarily right-wing (honestly, probably center left to center right), but they're probably outside of what you'd normally consume and may challenge or intrigue you.

  1. The New Liberal Podcast New liberalism is a rebranding of neoliberalism. I'd start by listening to a couple mailbag episodes and his past best books of the year episodes.

  2. Conversations with Tyler Tyler Cowen is a conservative economist at the University of Chicago, but you don't actually hear his opinions that often on his podcast which consists of interviews with an eclectic variety of folks from a homeless man to a Calvinist theologian, from music producer Rick Rubin to Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales. He has a unique interviewing style that consists of a series of disjointed questions. He often poses challenging questions, but he gives them plenty of space to answer and doesn't debate. I would suggest skipping interviews with people you know you're going to hate (e.g., Peter Thiel), but instead look for interviews that pique your interest.

Allero OP ,

Center left to center right by American standards, I suppose?

(It's important to clarify as American center is way more right than normally considered, with Democrats normally considered center-to-moderate right outside of the US)

Thanks! Wide scope is appreciated.

juicy ,

Yes, I'm not familiar enough with European politics to confidently say what it would be considered there.

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