Are you a Neoconservative?

Published on August 12, 2004 By historyishere In Politics

I was on a political forum recently, and this quiz caught my eye. I know that quite a few little quizzes have been posted to the forums and in a lot of blogs, but given a lot of the discussions I've seen here, it seemed very appropriate.

Are you a Neoconservative?

My results said that I could be categorized as being one of many:

Liberals…

Are wary of American arrogance and hypocrisy
Trace much of today's anti-American hatred to previous US foreign policies.
Believe political solutions are inherently superior to military solutions
Believe the US is morally bound to intervene in humanitarian crises
Oppose American imperialism
Support international law, alliances, and agreements
Encourage US participation in the UN
Believe US economic policies must help lift up the world's poor

Historical liberal: President Woodrow Wilson
Modern liberal: President Jimmy Carter

Which shouldn't really come as a surprise to anyone... especially me.... although I don't agree with everything in the above list.... because the realist category also has a lot I agree with as well.

Realists....

Are guided more by practical considerations than ideological vision
Believe US power is crucial to successful diplomacy - and vice versa
Don't want US policy options unduly limited by world opinion or ethical considerations
Believe strong alliances are important to US interests
Weigh the political costs of foreign action
Believe foreign intervention must be dictated by compelling national interest

Historical realist: President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Modern realist: Secretary of State Colin Powell

But I guess I can't be both, can I? I mean, a liberal realist? Isn't that a contradiction in terms?

Comments (Page 1)

bakerstreet

on Aug 12, 2004

Seems like I am a realist. =/

Madine

on Aug 12, 2004

I am a...

Neoconservative

Neoconservatives…

Want the US to be the world's unchallenged superpower
Share unwavering support for Israel
Support American unilateral action
Support preemptive strikes to remove perceived threats to US security
Promote the development of an American empire
Equate American power with the potential for world peace
Seek to democratize the Arab world
Push regime change in states deemed threats to the US or its allies
Historical neoconservative: President Teddy Roosevelt

Modern neoconservative: President Ronald Reagan

historyishere

on Aug 12, 2004

But do you agree with everything on the list Madine and Baker?

bakerstreet

on Aug 12, 2004

I kinda think I am a tad more conservative than the realist description, but I wasn't comfortable with how two-dimensional some of the most conservative options were. I dunno, maybe I am just not a NeoCon, or maybe they tended toward a two-dimensional definition.

Draginol

on Aug 12, 2004

My result: Realist

Realist

Realists…

Are guided more by practical considerations than ideological vision

Believe US power is crucial to successful diplomacy - and vice versa
Don't want US policy options unduly limited by world opinion or ethical considerations
Believe strong alliances are important to US interests
Weigh the political costs of foreign action
Believe foreign intervention must be dictated by compelling national interest

Historical realist: President Dwight D. Eisenhower

Modern realist: Secretary of State Colin Powell

Repub

on Aug 12, 2004

I'm a Neoconservative!!!!!

Lord Shitzu

on Aug 12, 2004

Liberal

Liberals…

Are wary of American arrogance and hypocrisy
Trace much of today's anti-American hatred to previous US foreign policies.
Believe political solutions are inherently superior to military solutions
Believe the US is morally bound to intervene in humanitarian crises
Oppose American imperialism
Support international law, alliances, and agreements
Encourage US participation in the UN
Believe US economic policies must help lift up the world's poor
Historical liberal: President Woodrow Wilson

Modern liberal: President Jimmy Carter

I'm not surprised, of course.

johnathanswifts

on Aug 12, 2004

Isolationist
The term isolationist is most often used negatively; few people who share its beliefs use it to describe their own foreign policy perspective. They believe in "America first." For them, national sovereignty trumps international relations. Many unions, libertarians, and anti-globalization protesters share isolationist tenets.
Isolationists…

* Are wary of US involvement in the United Nations
* Oppose international law, alliances, and agreements
* Believe the US should not act as a global cop
* Support trade practices that protect American workers
* Oppose liberal immigration
* Oppose American imperialism
* Desire to preserve what they see as America's national identity and character

Historical isolationist: President Calvin Coolidge
Modern isolationist: Author/Commentator Pat Buchanan

but i also believe in some of the Realist

Realist
Realists…

* Are guided more by practical considerations than ideological vision
* Believe US power is crucial to successful diplomacy - and vice versa
* Don't want US policy options unduly limited by world opinion or ethical considerations
* Believe strong alliances are important to US interests
* Weigh the political costs of foreign action
* Believe foreign intervention must be dictated by compelling national interest

Historical realist: President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Modern realist: Secretary of State Colin Powell

psychx

on Aug 12, 2004

Neocon quiz results

Based on your answers, you are most likely a realist. Read below to learn more about each foreign policy perspective.

I guess I'm pragmatic

Muggaz

on Aug 12, 2004

Isolationist

The term isolationist is most often used negatively; few people who share its beliefs use it to describe their own foreign policy perspective. They believe in "America first." For them, national sovereignty trumps international relations. Many unions, libertarians, and anti-globalization protesters share isolationist tenets.

Isolationists…

Are wary of US involvement in the United Nations
Oppose international law, alliances, and agreements
Believe the US should not act as a global cop
Support trade practices that protect American workers
Oppose liberal immigration
Oppose American imperialism
Desire to preserve what they see as America's national identity and character
Historical isolationist: President Calvin Coolidge

Modern isolationist: Author/Commentator Pat Buchanan

This test was hard for me to do, because I am on the outside looking in - it was still interesting though... I just like being compared with a president name 'Coolidge'

BAM!!!

Madine

on Aug 12, 2004

I never knew Muggaz supported "America First"

I don't agree with the concept of an "American empire" (I have not heard such a thing advocated by neocons) and my support for unilateral action and pre-emptive attacks is certainly conditional, but other than that I do agree with the list.

historyishere

on Aug 12, 2004

Baker: I do agree with you that it is a bit two dimensional... but for a quick quiz, it does an ok job of setting up some positions on the issues.

Madine: I've heard of American Neocolonialism, but never as boldly stated as the "American Empire," although they do call the post-WWII period Pax Americana sometimes, which would seem to correspond to Pax Britannia and Pax Romana.

On the forum I found it on, isolationism was the least common designation, with "liberal" being the top choice. Then again, most of the people who go there skew really left too while there is a tendency for JU to be a lot more centrist-oriented.

Gene Nash

on Aug 13, 2004

It called me a realist.

there is a tendency for JU to be a lot more centrist-oriented.

What happened to all the people claiming we were the propaganda arm of the far right?

I am wondering about this "neo-con" label, though. It seems to me "neo-con" is just a pejorative lable designed by liberals to counter the spiteful use of "liberal" while they attempt to rechristen themselves "progressive."

How is Ronald Reagan "neo-con"? That's the first time I've seen that label applied to him. The people who I've seen at least try to draw a distinction between conservative and neoconservative (presumably they would be different things or why the new label?) put Reagan as conservative and Bush II as neoconservative. Even if I accepted that Reagan originated a new brand of conservativism, Teddy Roosevelt? Teddy Roosevelt?!

If this isn't just a new anti-conservative pejorative, where was "conservative" on the list? Does the Christian Science Montior think "conservatives" don't exist and only neoconservatives live on?

historyishere

on Aug 13, 2004

From the Wikipedia

"Neoconservatism refers to the political goals and ideology of the "new conservatives" in the United States, characterized by hawkish views on foreign policy and a lesser emphasis on social issues and minimal government than other strains of American conservatism. The "newness" refers either to being new to American conservatism (often coming from liberal or socialist backgrounds) or to being part of a "new wave" of conservative thought and political organization. In both meanings the term is sometimes used pejoratively. This criticism has grown due to the increased controversy over an alleged major neoconservative initiative, the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.

More specifically, the term refers to journalists, pundits, policy analysts, and institutions affiliated with policy think tanks such as the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and the Project for the New American Century (PNAC) and periodicals such as Commentary and The Weekly Standard. The neoconservatives, often dubbed the neocons by supporters and critics alike, are credited with (or blamed for) influencing U.S. foreign policy, especially under the administrations of Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) and George W. Bush (2001-present).

The term neoconservative is somewhat controversial, with many to whom the label is applied rejecting it. It has become increasingly popular in recent years, to the point where many say it is becoming overused and lacking any coherent definition, especially since many so-called neoconservatives vehemently disagree with one another on major issues. (See Criticism of term, below.)"

And regarding the balance of the JU site... I've been to war gaming sites... trust me... that's where you really find yourself outnumbered if you are on the left.

Muggaz

on Aug 13, 2004

I never knew Muggaz supported "America First"

Hahaha.... Yeah - I am all for "America First" in a race of one ya bastards

I know you guys are the good guys... just sometimes run by bad people... was this Coolidge character any good as a president?

BAM!!!

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