Reactionary

In politics, a reactionary is a person who favors a return to a previous state of society which they believe possessed positive characteristics absent from contemporary.^[1] As a descriptor term, reactionary derives from the ideological context of the left–right political spectrum. As an adjective, the word reactionary describes points of view and policies meant to restore a status quo ante.

As an ideology, reactionism is a tradition in right-wing politics;^[1] the reactionary stance opposes policies for the social transformation of society, whereas conservatives seek to preserve the socio-economic structure and order that exists in the present.^[2] In popular usage, reactionary refers to a strong traditionalist conservative political perspective of a person opposed to social, political, and economic change.^[3]^[4] In the 20th century, reactionary politics was associated with restoring values such as discipline, hierarchy and respect for authority and privilege.^[1]

Reactionary ideologies can be radical in the sense of political extremism in service to re-establishing past conditions. To some writers, the term reactionary carries negative connotations—Peter King observed that it is "an unsought-for label, used as a torment rather than a badge of honor."^[5] Despite this, the descriptor "political reactionary" has been adopted by writers such as the Austrian monarchist Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn,^[6] the Scottish journalist Gerald Warner of Craigenmaddie,^[7] the Colombian political theologian Nicolás Gómez Dávila, and the American historian John Lukacs.^[8]

^ ^a ^b ^c The New Fontana Dictionary of Modern Thought Third Edition, (1999) p. 729. ISBN 9780002558716
^ Lilla, Mark (2016). "Introduction". The Shipwrecked Mind. New York Review Books. pp. xii. ISBN 9781590179024.
^ "reactionary". Lexico. Archived from the original on October 14, 2019.
^ "reactionary". Merriam-Webster.
^ King, Peter. Reaction: Against the modern world. Andrews UK Limited, 2012.
^ Credo of a Reactionary by Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn – The American Mercury, under his alias Francis Stuart Campbell
^ "Scrap the meaningless terms Left and Right and reclaim the honourable title 'reactionary'". The Daily Telegraph. 27 July 2010. Archived from the original on 30 July 2010.
^ Lukacs, John (2000). Confessions of an Original Sinner. St. Augustine's Press. ISBN 9781890318123.

[Modern_Thought_Third_Edition_1999_p._729-1] The New Fontana Dictionary of Modern Thought Third Edition, (1999) p. 729. ISBN 9780002558716

[2] Lilla, Mark (2016). "Introduction". The Shipwrecked Mind. New York Review Books. pp. xii. ISBN 9781590179024.

[3] "reactionary". Lexico. Archived from the original on October 14, 2019.

[4] "reactionary". Merriam-Webster.

[5] King, Peter. Reaction: Against the modern world. Andrews UK Limited, 2012.

[6] Credo of a Reactionary by Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn – The American Mercury, under his alias Francis Stuart Campbell

[7] "Scrap the meaningless terms Left and Right and reclaim the honourable title 'reactionary'". The Daily Telegraph. 27 July 2010. Archived from the original on 30 July 2010.

[8] Lukacs, John (2000). Confessions of an Original Sinner. St. Augustine's Press. ISBN 9781890318123.

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