Published on July 1, 2024, 12:39 am

David Brooks, a prominent commentator on politics and public affairs, is often viewed as the alternate voice on the Public Broadcasting Service’s News Hour. His influence in the realm of journalism extends beyond his regular appearances on PBS. He is also a recurring columnist for the New York Times, contributed to progressive Newsweek and The Atlantic Monthly, and worked as an editor for The Weekly Standard since its inception.

Considered an intellectual chameleon of sorts, Brooks’ ideological alignment has been labeled variously as moderate, centrist, conservative, or moderate conservative. His academic career reflects this dynamic fluidity; he has held professorial positions at Duke University and taught at Yale University. In addition, he was elected to the Board of Trustees at the University of Chicago.

Brooks identifies himself as a moderate—a self-characterization that prompts some to question why PBS News and other news media portray him as conservative. However, context provides clarity regarding this query.

Brooks’ recent article in The Times illuminates his inferred conservatism further. He commences by reflecting on an assertion he has always upheld: American people firmly believe in “American exceptionalism.” Historical evidence supports this belief—America consistently played the role of global democracy advocate. As a nation welcoming immigrants with open arms and epitomizing faith in “the American dream.”

However, Brooks recently took cognizance of a report evaluating 28 nations’ attitudes towards these cornerstones of ‘the dream.’ Surprisingly, America doesn’t top the chart—it barely rests midway down it! According to Brooks, data points reveal increasing support for right-wing populism worldwide. And this trend isn’t restricted to Europe (nodding particularly to countries like the Netherlands); it’s evident globally—in India, Indonesia Mexico et al.

Brooks expresses his shock at witnessing widespread deviation from liberal democratic norms established post-1848 revolutions—an ideological fragmenting underway since Francis Fukuyama’s landmark proclamation about communism’s collapse in 1989. Liberal democracies seem currently to be ‘on the retreat,’ and Brooks suggests, as a counter-move, liberals across the globe should push for all-encompassing, effectual change.

Moreover, Brooks’ piece paves the way for a wider conversation on populism and conservatism. The progressive promises echoed by revolutionary movements of 1848 eventually materialized but only within a centralized model dominated by expert power. A fitting opposition to progressivism was only seen post-WWII with renowned political figures and authors such as F.A Hayek, William F. Buckley Jr., Barry Goldwater, Ronald Reagan—each playing instrumental roles in advocating for conservative principles.

The rise of right-wing populism holds no mystery when analyzed against the backdrop of increasing public disappointment in comprehensive progressivism—even today’s news is filled with real examples of these dynamics. People yearn not for more grandiose plans but freedom from bureaucratic constrictions. The solution to the worldwide surge in populism lies not merely in creating better strategies but facilitating local communities and individuals’ autonomy—a fundamental principle pinned at the heart of American exceptionalism.

American faith emanates not from an assumption of superiority or responsibility as a democratizing force or an obligation to immigrant populations. Instead—as Reagan opined—it stems from a higher authority and honored foundational principles like federalism over pure democracy.

Consequently, returning to this root—the decentralization and limitation dictated by American Constitutional law—should be our path forward in navigating current populist trends within our trusted news sources.

Donald Devine is best known for his tenure as civil service director under President Ronald Reagan during his first term—a role he performed while concurrently contributing significantly to academia having authored 11 books, including “The Enduring Tension: Capitalism and the Moral Order”
and “Ronald Reagan’s Enduring Principles.” As senior scholar at the Fund for American Studies in Washington, D.C., he continues to shape the way we perceive and engage with socio-political issues from a Christian Worldview. His real news insights form an integral part of The American Spectator’s contributions.