Libertarian-Conservative Fusionism and What It Isn't

For most people, the word “fusionism” probably conjures something involving music or cuisine—a mashup, say, of Asian and South American foods on offer at the hip new restaurant in town. Even among political junkies, a misconception reigns: the notion that fusionism is a nickname for the Cold War-era political coalition of economic libertarians and religious traditionalists. That understanding, too, is subtly mistaken. In reality, fusionism was a marriage not of two groups but of two value sets. A fusionist is someone who sees both freedom and virtue as prerequisites for a good life and a flourishing society. Come learn about this sadly forgotten but uniquely American idea.