The Alternative Historiography of the Alt-Right

The historiography of modern conservatism in the United States has largely conformed to a long-ascension narrative. Focusing on the movement’s capture of the Republican Party and, via neoliberalism, renovation of the Democratic Party, this historiography depicts conservatism as more unified and coherent than perhaps it deserves. Toward understanding the historical subjectivity of the alt right, this paper explores histories of the movement penned by retired intellectual historian Paul Gottfried. Known for mentoring alt-right innovator Richard Spencer, Gottfried’s assessments of the history of modern conservatism from a “paleoconservative” vantage lend insight into the historical counter-narratives that inform the contemporary alt-right insurgency.