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The conservative conference in Dallas wants to unite Trumpists and right-wing populists. This and across the Atlantic.
In the 20th century, the left tried to unite in the “International” across borders. Now it’s conservative forces that are increasingly networking. Starting today, Thursday, they will meet in Dallas, Texas, at the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC for short.
The organizers describe the meeting “as one of the largest and most influential gatherings of conservatives in the world”. Illustrious names figure on the guest list.
Tryst of the populists
Ex-President Trump is expected to deliver his speech on Saturday. Other prominent speakers include Trump ally Steve Bannon, Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
In addition, the Brexit pioneer Nigel Farrage, the son of Brazilian President Bolsonaro and Sarah Palin also travel to the conference.
CPAC has evolved from a platform of US conservatives to a platform of Trumpists and right-wing populists.
The CPAC was founded in the 1970s and looks back on a long tradition in conservative America. At the time, she wanted to counterbalance the civil rights movement and the growing Democratic Party in the United States.
The political scientist Christian Lammert now sees clear attempts by the movement to network internationally. “You can also see that from the fact that Viktor Orban, who is a role model for right-wing populists in the USA, appears there.”
turning to the radical right
For Lammert, the CPAC is also changing ideologically. “It has developed from a platform of US conservatives to a platform of Trumpists and right-wing populists,” says the professor for the political system in North America at the John F. Kennedy Institute in Berlin.
Trump has been a keynote speaker at CPAC in the past. And with resounding success. “This time, too, it will be exciting to see how much support Trump has among these extremely conservatives,” Lammert estimates.
Legend:
There is currently speculation that Donald Trump could announce his renewed candidacy as presidential candidate before the congressional elections in the fall. He’s a regular at CPAC.
AP via Reuters/John Raoux
So the CPAC will be a good indicator of how strong Trumpism is in the US. “The conference will shed light on where the Republican Party stands and how radical conservatism has become in some parts of the United States,” Lammert said.
The fascination of Orban
His own assessment: “The movement is shockingly radical.” A network of media professionals, activists and politicians is forming that wants to push through the idea of illiberal democracy. “If you look at the highlights of past speeches at the events, you sometimes get the cold horror of how extreme right-wing conservatism has developed in the USA.”
For Lammert, the fascination for Viktor Orban in precisely these circles is fed by a simple fact: he is a right-wing populist who knows how to win elections. “He is transforming the democratic system in such a way that it still has core criteria such as elections – but is very illiberal in other areas.”
Legend:
Expression of the CPAC’s sympathies for the Hungarian prime minister: In May, the assembly of conservatives invited to the conference in Budapest.
Keystone/Zoltan Fischer
In a speech just last week, Orban warned of a “mixed race world”. “It contained strong connotations of National Socialism. But that doesn’t seem to bother CPAC,” summarizes Lammert.
Rather, Orban is delivering the blueprint for the transformation of the United States: a white America that is building walls and restructuring the democratic system in such a way that it can be sure of permanent majorities.