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An existential identity crisis now grips the American right. A political movement once united by a commitment to limited government, moral order, and a robust defense of American ideals now appears fractured, its purpose clouded by populist grievances and ideological drift.

Since the turn of the century, a once-robust definition of conservatism has gradually devolved into "anything that's not 'woke.'"

A truly conservative movement must resist the allure of revanchist politics obsessively focused on destroying the edifices of the left. As Kirk so eloquently demonstrated, civilizations are not built on negation, but on affirmation. They thrive when they are anchored in a moral and spiritual order that shapes their laws, customs, and governance. The same principle holds true for political movements. To regain its footing, the conservative movement must return to this foundation, cultivating ordered souls capable of sustaining an ordered polity.

Ed Feulner is the founder of the Heritage Foundation.

https://www.nationalaffairs.com/publications/detail/rediscovering-order-age-populism

Key Points
- Varnashrama-dharma – duties performed according to the system of four varnas (social divisions) and four ashrams (stages in life).
- Focus is on responsibilities (which naturally fulfil the rights of others).
- Four varnas – brahmanas (priests, teachers, and intellectuals), kshatriyas (police, army, and administration), vaishyas (farmers, merchants, and business people), shudras (artisans and workers).
- Four ashrams – student life, household life, retirement, and renunciation.