In the United States, the term New Right describes the grassroots coalition of conservatives that collectively led what scholars often refer to as the “Conservative Ascendancy” or “Republican Ascendancy” of the late 20th century. Dubbed the “New Right” partly in contrast to the “New Left” counterculture of the 1960s, the New Right theoretically consisted of conservative grassroots activists opposed to a variety of issues, including abortion, busing, homosexuality, the Equal Rights Amendment, the Panama Canal Treaty, affirmative action, and most forms of taxation.

The “newness” of the New Right refers to several things. It refers to reinvigorated and redefined forms of conservative political activity. It also refers to the geographic hubs of New Right activity, as well as the youthfulness and mobilization of a previously disorganized ...