Freedom Conservatism

Freedom Conservatism began life as a conversation among a small group of conservatives, libertarians, and classical liberals about the rise of authoritarianism around the world, its manifestations in contemporary American politics, and related debates about the past, present, and future of the American conservative movement. We formed a working group, led by Avik Roy and John Hood; drafted the Statement of Principles; invited other leaders to help edit and refine it; and then recruited signatories from across the movement. The FreeCon Statement was published on July 13, 2023. Its signatories included prominent journalists, scholars, policy experts, business executives, nonprofit leaders, activists, and former public officials. “To ensure that America's best days are ahead,” it begins, “we must apply the timeless principles of liberty to the challenges of the 21st century.” Within days, hundreds of thousands of Americans had read the statement — by visiting FreedomConservatism.org, reading one of the many newspapers and magazines that republished the statement in full, or by following social-media threads. Articles about the FreeCon project soon appeared in National Review, RealClearPolitics, The Washington Examiner, Politico, The Financial Times, Newsmax, The American Spectator, and other publications. It also became the subject of TV programs, radio shows, and podcasts. As the project continues to unfold, FreeCons will explain and expand on the statement of principles in articles, speeches, private meetings, and public events.