Issue Monday: Fusionism and the Future of American Conservatism
Join Centennial Institute for our April Issue Monday lecture with Stephanie Slade, senior editor at Reason magazine.
In the years following World War II, “fusionism”—the idea that individual liberty and moral virtue are both necessary for human flourishing—became the intellectual foundation of the conservative movement in the United States. But over the last decade, a schism has opened up on the American right. On one side are fusionists who continue to advocate limited government and free enterprise. On the other are those who think conservatives need to get comfortable wielding state power “to reward their friends and punish their enemies.” Where did the fusionist philosophy originate, and why has it seemingly fallen out of fashion in recent years? More importantly, is there hope for a fusionist revival in the post-Trump era? Reason magazine’s Stephanie Slade is one of the foremost chroniclers of these debates. In “Liberty, Virtue, and the Future of the American Right,” she will draw on her reporting to map out the political landscape and make the case that the fusionist philosophy is as relevant today as it was half a century ago.
Issue Monday: Fusionism and the Future of American Conservatism
Monday, April 19, 2027
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm MT
Fran & Larry Donnithorne Great Hall
Colorado Christian University
8787 W. Alameda Ave.
Lakewood, CO 80226
MEDIA CREDENTIALING: While members of the media are welcome to attend our events, they are not allowed inside university buildings or facilities for the purpose of reporting unless they have received prior approval in writing from the Communications and Creative Services Department. For more information on how to apply for a media credential, please email centennial@ccu.edu.
About Stephanie Slade
Stephanie Slade is a senior editor at Reason magazine and author of the new book Fusionism: Liberty, Virtue, and the Future of the American Right. She covers the political and intellectual debates that have been roiling the conservative movement in recent years. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, America magazine, and many other places. She has appeared on a variety of podcasts, including The Ezra Klein Show and Jonah Goldberg’s The Remnant.
