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Fusionism

Profile-angle photo of Frank S. Meyer, facing left, smoking a cigarette, next to a separate forward-facing photo of Rose Wilder Lane, both in front of an orange background. | Illustration: Eddie Marshall | Wikimedia Commons

Fusionism

'The Tension Between Tradition and Individualism'

Conservative founding father Frank Meyer and libertarian founding mother Rose Wilder Lane had rich, friendly debates on how much American liberty relied on old European traditions.

Daniel J. Flynn | 8.19.2025 8:00 AM

A photo of Ronald Reagan smiling | Photo: Ronald Reagan, 1968; Keystone Press/Alamy

Libertarianism

What Ronald Reagan's Fusionist Politics Teach Us About Liberty, Virtue, and Their Limits

Fusionism holds that virtue and liberty are mutually reinforcing, and that neither is possible in any lasting or meaningful way without the other.

Stephanie Slade | 6.5.2025 6:00 AM

A Just Asking Questions image treatment with left to right pictures of Trent Horn, Pope Francis, Liz Wolfe, and Zach Weissmueller with the words Catholic libertarians? in white text | Photo: Catholic Church England/Flickr/Creative Commons; Illustration by John Osterhoudt

Catholicism

Trent Horn: Can a Catholic be a Socialist?

Catholic Answers apologist Trent Horn explores the nexus of Catholic social teaching and libertarianism.

Zach Weissmueller and Liz Wolfe | 6.27.2024 1:00 PM

Pat Toomey Donald Trump free trade crypto interview retirement Senate Congress tariffs | Rod Lamkey - CNP/Newscom

Republican Party

'The Principles Should Endure': Sen. Pat Toomey on Fusionism, Tariffs, and What's To Blame for FTX's Collapse

After two terms in the Senate as a champion for free markets and limited government, Pennsylvania's Republican senator is heading into retirement.

Eric Boehm | 12.27.2022 1:00 PM

Thumbnail (7) | Michael Brochstein/Polaris/Newscom; JOE MARINO/UPI/Newscom; ID 84824291 © Lane Erickson | Dreamstime.com; Illustration by Lex Villena

Election 2022

From Pat Toomey to Dr. Oz: The Pennsylvania Senate Race Reflects the GOP's Descent Into Madness

Donald Trump's staying power and the decline of fusionism are on full display in this primary race.

Eric Boehm | 4.7.2022 11:35 AM

featuretwolibertarianisms | Illustration: Joanna Andreasson; Source images: mauro_grigollo/iStock. Public Domain

Libertarianism

Must Libertarians Care About More Than the State?

The tension between two libertarianisms in the big tent

Stephanie Slade | 3.19.2022 6:00 AM

Fusionism

Debating the Continued Relevance of Frank Meyer's Fusionism

A back and forth on whether fusionism retains its vitality in the 21st century, or whether it ever had any vitality at all.

Jonathan H. Adler |The Volokh Conspiracy | 7.5.2021 10:06 AM

Fusionism

On the Continuing Relevance of Frank Meyer's Fusionism

Liberty and virtue are not merely compatible, but complementary, or so I would suggest.

Jonathan H. Adler |The Volokh Conspiracy | 6.10.2021 4:46 PM

sipaphotosten093114 | Max Oden/Sipa USA/Newscom

Media Criticism

Liberal Media Coverage Is Boosting Conservative Nationalists

Plus: Supreme Court to rule on Catholic foster agencies, tech associations sue over social media law in Florida, and more…

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 6.1.2021 9:38 AM

sfphotosfour847240 | CNP/AdMedia/SIPA/Newscom

Conservatism

Time for Conservatives To Rethink Their Priorities

If MAGA conservatives want libertarians to be part of their tribe, they should halt their attacks on the free market.

Steven Greenhut | 3.12.2021 8:00 AM

fusionism | Source image: Bachrach/Getty, Illustration: Joanna Andreasson

Fusionism

Is There a Future for Fusionism?

In the years since the Cold War, conservatives have lost sight of the relationship between liberty and personal responsibility.

Stephanie Slade | 2.10.2021 6:00 AM

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