The European Conservative

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The European Conservative
The European Conservative text logo.svg
The European Conservative logo.svg
TypeQuarterly journal
FormatPrint, Digital
Owner(s)European Conservative Nonprofit Ltd.
Founder(s) Center for European Renewal
PublisherEuropean Conservative Nonprofit Ltd.
Editor-in-chiefAlvino-Mario Fantini
Managing editorEllen Kryger Fantini
Founded2008
Political alignment Pan-European conservatism
LanguageEnglish
Headquarters Budapest, Vienna, Rome, Berlin, Brussels
City Budapest
Country Hungary
Circulation 5,000 (print); 120,000 (digital)
ISSN 2590-2008
Website europeanconservative.com

The European Conservative is a pan-European conservative English-language publication registered in Budapest, Hungary, with an editorial office in Vienna, Austria, and news offices in Brussels, Belgium and Rome, Italy. It focuses on philosophy, politics, culture, and the arts. It publishes articles, essays, interviews, and reviews about different kinds of conservative, traditionalist, reactionary, and right-wing thought in Europe and across the world. [1]

Contents

The European Conservative is published both as a quarterly print journal and as a website. Not all the content from the print edition is available online. In late 2021, the website started publishing daily news stories and news analysis. In early 2023, it also started publishing a weekly e-newsletter from its Brussels office.

History

Background and origins

The European Conservative originally began in 2008 as an informal, four-page newsletter written and edited by a group of volunteers associated with the Center for European Renewal (CER), a pan-European conservative organization originally based in The Hague, now in Amsterdam.

The CER was formally founded in 2007, after a first exploratory meeting in 2006 held at Kasteel De Vanenburg in Putten, which brought together conservative scholars and writers from across Europe and the United States as well. The CER now organizes an annual Vanenburg Meeting, named after the location of that first 2006 meeting. [2]

Among the founders of the CER are the German publisher and writer Caspar Freiherr von Schrenck-Notzing (1927–2009), the Polish historian and philosopher Miłowit Kuniński (1946–2018), and the British political philosopher Roger Scruton (1944–2020). Other key figures involved with the CER are Dutch ethicist and political philosopher Andreas Kinneging of Leiden University, political scientist András Lánczi, the former rector of Corvinus University in Budapest, and R. R. Reno, editor of First Things magazine. [3]

Development and growth

Five editions of The European Conservative were published intermittently over a two-year period by a group of volunteers associated with the CER and the Vanenburg Meeting, before production was paused at the end of 2010.[ citation needed ]

In 2012, former speechwriter, financial journalist, and editor (and co-founder of the CER) Alvino-Mario Fantini volunteered to take over as editor, working with a group of remote volunteers. The publication was re-designed, and new content and features were added (e.g., a cover image, book reviews, ads). The page count was also increased. Distribution of the publication continued in limited print runs but also as a free .pdf distributed by email and available online. [4] But since 2019, The European Conservative has been an independent quarterly published by the European Conservative Nonprofit Ltd., in collaboration with the research organization CEDI/EDIC in Vienna, the Italian think-tank Nazione Futura in Rome, and the Bibliothek des Konservatismus in Berlin.

The publication's current Editor-in-Chief is Alvino-Mario Fantini, who has also previously written for The American Spectator, Crisis, The New Criterion, Far Eastern Economic Review, Catholic World Report, The American Conservative, and The Wall Street Journal Europe. He is also a frequent public speaker, and has appeared at various events organized by ADF International, Austrian Economics Center, [5] [6] New Direction, [7] [8] De Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture at the University of Notre Dame, CEFAS at CEU-San Pablo University, [9] the ID Group at the European Parliament, [10] and the National Conservatism conferences. [11] [12]

Over the years, The European Conservative has published material by people closely associated with the CER, as well as by other well-known authors, such as Anthony Daniels (Theodore Dalrymple), Remi Brague, Ryszard Legutko, Chantal Delsol, Mark Dooley, Todd Huizinga, Charles Coulombe, Alberto Fernandez, Roger Watson, among others. [13] In recent years, it has also published less-well-known authors and emerging scholars from around the world, particularly those working in languages other than English. [14] [15] [16]

Activities and events

Fantini speaking at CPAC Hungary 2022 CPAC Hungary 2022.jpg
Fantini speaking at CPAC Hungary 2022

The European Conservative has organized and co-sponsored several events over the years. In June 2021, to mark the re-design and re-launch of the publication (with its Summer 2021 edition) it held a panel discussion with several scholars at one of the Scruton Cafes in Budapest, Hungary. [17] [18]

In September 2021, to mark the publication of its Fall 2021 edition, the publication organized a day-long series of panels at the Lónyay-Hatvany Villa in Budapest, with invited guests from the academic and political world. [19] [20] [21]

In March 2022, the publication was one of several official partners of the National Conservatism Conference held in Brussels. [22]

On September 30–October 2, 2022, five days after the snap elections in Italy, The European Conservative co-organized, with Nazione Futura and the Fondazione Tatarella, a two-day conference on “Italian Conservatism.” This included both English-language and Italian-language panels, with panelists and keynote speakers discussing and debating different conservative ideas as well as various approaches to conservative governance and policies. The event was heavily covered by various Italian and European media. [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28]

The European Conservative has also participated in the 2022 Young Leaders Academy, organized by New Direction and the Center for the Renewal of Culture in Split, [29] with the Institut Iliade in Paris, [30] and the Bibliothek des Konservatismus in Berlin. [31] [32]

In April 2023, The European Conservative website was the first news outlet to report on suspicions against a parliamentary aide Jian Guo of right-wing MEP Maximilian Krah (AfD) for lobbying and possibly spying for communist ruled China. [33] One year later, on 23 April 2024, the aide was arrested by Germany police on charges of espionage for China. The pioneering revelations in The European Conservative were acknowledged in international media like New York Times, [34] The Times [35] (London), France24, [36] Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, [37] Die Welt. [38] TEC’s editor-in-chief Alvino-Mario Fantini was quoted saying on his website’s reporting “we were confirmed”. [39]

Contributors

The European Conservative publishes both established and well-known conservative scholars and writers, as well as lesser known, young, or undiscovered writers around the world.

A few of the many contributors to The European Conservative over the years have included:

Controversy

In the summer of 2022, the publication's British stockist, WHSmith, removed all copies of The European Conservative from its shelves after complaints by two prominent customers—Alexi Kaye Campbell, a Greek-British playwright, and his civil partner Dominic Cooke, an English director and writer—over some of the publication's content.

Pointing to an interview with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in the Spring 2022 edition, as well as a one-line critical comment about pride marches and an editorial cartoon by Canadian artist Bob Moran, both in the Summer 2022 edition, Campbell and Cooke urged their friends and followers on Instagram and Twitter to pressure WHSmith into removing the magazine, which they called "fascist filth", from their shelves.

The magazine's alleged links to Viktor Orbán and Fidesz has been the subject of criticism by liberal outlets. [41] [42] [43] Conversely, the magazine has been praised by more conservative outlets for its writing and professional presentation. [44]

Outlets such as Tichys Einblick (Germany), National Catholic Register (U.S.), Gaceta de la Iberoesfera (Spain), Power Line (U.S.), and Junge Freiheit (Germany), among others, covered the incident. After a mild media storm, WHSmith decided to allow for the return of the publication starting with the Fall 2022 edition. [45] [46] [47] [48] [49]

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. ↑ "About".
  2. ↑ "Vanenburg Conference". Center for European Renewal. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  3. ↑ Reno, R. R. (8 August 2017). "Recovering a Culture of Affirmation". First Things . Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  4. ↑ Kohán, Mátyás (10 September 2021). "An Interview with Alvino-Mario Fantini, Editor of The European Conservative". The European Conservative . Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  5. ↑ "Lecture: "Innovation And Entrepreneurship In Europe" • Austrian Economics Center". 19 January 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  6. ↑ Martin (7 January 2018). "Fantini, Alvino-Mario • Free Market Road Show" . Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  7. ↑ "Think Tank Central: Defining Freedom Conference". New Direction. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  8. ↑ "Think Tank Central: Defending Freedom Conference". New Direction. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  9. ↑ Vilanova, Guillermo Altarriba (3 March 2022). "El CEU busca soluciones al declive europeo: "Estamos en guerra por las mentes, corazones y almas de nuestros hijos"". El Debate (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  10. ↑ "Konservative Allianzen in Europa - Motor der EU-Reform". ID-Fraktion - Deutsche Delegation. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  11. ↑ "Alvino-Mario Fantini". National Conservatism Conference, Rome 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  12. ↑ "Alvino-Mario Fantini". National Conservatism Conference, 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  13. ↑ "European Conservative". Center for European Renewal. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  14. ↑ Lauzun, Hélène de (25 January 2024). "French Senate President Opposes Adding Abortion Rights to Constitution". The European Conservative . Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  15. ↑ Vanheuckelom, Tristan (25 January 2024). "Controversial Dutch Law Will Force Municipalities To Take In Migrants". The European Conservative . Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  16. ↑ Kottász, Zoltán (24 January 2024). "Israeli Ceasefire Proposal Rejected by Hamas". The European Conservative . Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  17. ↑ ""The European Conservative", la nuova rivista dei conservatori. Nazione Futura partner per l'Italia". Nazione Futura (in Italian). 20 July 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  18. ↑ "Jön a megújult The European Conservative magazin! | Mandiner". mandiner.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  19. ↑ Bernát, Veszprémy László. "Konzervatív kritika: a nyugati egyetemek egy részén a valóság lebomlása zajlik | Mandiner". mandiner.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  20. ↑ Bernát, Veszprémy László. ""A baloldal eszköze a düh" – médiavita a European Conservative konferenciáján | Mandiner". mandiner.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  21. ↑ Bernát, Veszprémy László. "Mi a szabad piac a 21. században? | Mandiner". mandiner.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  22. ↑ "About". National Conservatism Conference, Brussels 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  23. ↑ "Rómában találkoznak az európai konzervatívok | Mandiner". mandiner.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  24. ↑ "Europa, identità e libertà: arriva a Roma la convention dei conservatori". ilGiornale.it (in Italian). 29 September 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  25. ↑ Mo, Von Marco Gallina (3 October 2022). "Die europäischen Konservativen treffen sich in Rom – Deutschland bleibt außen vor". Tichys Einblick (in German). Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  26. ↑ Pappin, Gladden. "Italy Rejects Perpetual Liberalism". postliberalorder.substack.com. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  27. ↑ Trasferta romana dei meloniani d'Europa - Controcorrente Video | Mediaset Infinity , retrieved 21 October 2022
  28. ↑ "Conservadurismo Italiano: Europa, Identidad y Libertad. La llama de Roma ilumina a Occidente. Por Álvaro Peñas y José Papparelli". elcorreodeespana.com (in Spanish). 9 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  29. ↑ "Young Leaders Academy: Foundations of Freedom". New Direction. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  30. ↑ "2022 : restaurer le politique. Identité, souveraineté, sacré". Institut Iliade (in French). Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  31. ↑ Fenske, Wolfgang (11 October 2022). ""Der Konservative bleibt der Sieger der Geschichte"". Bibliothek des Konservatismus (in German). Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  32. ↑ Werner, Florian (10 October 2022). "Eine Bibliothek als Trutzburg" (in German). Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  33. ↑ Thomas O'Rheilly: Claims Surface Against MEP Maximilian Krah, The European Conservative, 18 April 2023; https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/claims-surface-against-mep-maximilian-krah/
  34. ↑ NYT: Germany Arrests Far-Right Lawmaker’s Aide on Suspicion of Spying for China, 23 April 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/23/world/europe/germany-china-spying.html
  35. ↑ The Times: Germany arrests 'Chinese Spy' in second AfD scandal, 23 April 2024, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/afd-mp-filmed-taking-cash-from-pro-kremlin-propagandist-5dnq35cvz
  36. ↑ France24: Germany arrests aide to far-right MEP on suspicion of China espionage, 24 April 2024, https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240423-germany-arrests-aide-far-right-mep-suspicion-china-espionage
  37. ↑ Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: Die auffallende China-Nähe des Maximilian Krah, 23 April 2024, https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/afd-mitarbeiter-als-spion-die-auffallende-china-naehe-des-maximilian-krah-19673803.html
  38. ↑ Die Welt: Jetzt gerät auch der AfD-Spitzenkandidat in den China-Sumpf, 23. April 2024, https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/plus251171274/Vier-Festnahmen-in-zwei-Tagen-Jetzt-geraet-auch-der-AfD-Spitzenkandidat-in-den-China-Sumpf.html
  39. ↑ Junge Freiheit: Die lange Vorgeschichte im Fall Maximilian Krah, 24 April 2024, https://jungefreiheit.de/politik/deutschland/2024/die-lange-vorgeschichte-im-fall-maximilian-krah/
  40. ↑ "Rod Dreher ━ The European Conservative". The European Conservative . Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  41. ↑ Wheaton, Sarah; Wax, Eddy (15 November 2023). "Viktor Orbán brings culture war to Brussels". Politico . Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  42. ↑ "Why right-wing Europeans are flocking to an English thinker". The Economist . 2 July 2023. ISSN   0013-0613 . Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  43. ↑ Rutai, Lili (16 September 2023). "Hungary is funding European publications. But have they had an impact?". Euronews . Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  44. ↑ Kwasniewski, Julian (18 January 2024). "The European Conservative: An Appreciation". Crisis Magazine. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  45. ↑ Gallina, Marco (3 September 2022). "Die Cancel Culture reibt sich an Scrutons Erben". Tichys Einblick (in German). Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  46. ↑ "UK Bookstore Chain Cancels Catholic-Friendly Journal for Wrongthink". NCR. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  47. ↑ de Toro, Marisa (10 September 2022). "No sufrirás pensamientos ni deseos conservadores". La Gaceta de la Iberosfera (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  48. ↑ Hayward, Steven (10 September 2022). "Loose Ends (182)". Power Line. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  49. ↑ "Wie ein konservatives Magazin aus dem Handel verbannt wird" (in German). 13 September 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
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