neocon
Meaning
A person with conservative or right-wing political views who previously held liberal or radical views, especially one who supports an assertive, interventionist foreign policy.
Structure
Usage
Several prominent neocons advocated for the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
His political evolution from a leftist to a neocon was detailed in his memoir.
The magazine became a central forum for neocon thought in the 1980s.
Etymology
The term is a modern American English portmanteau, a clipped compound of "neo-" and "conservative." The Greek-derived prefix "neo-" (new) implies a new form or iteration of an existing ideology. It was specifically coined in the 1970s to describe a group of intellectuals, many former liberals or socialists, who moved towards a particularly assertive form of anticommunist foreign policy conservatism, while often retaining some liberal views on domestic social issues. Thus, the word's logic encapsulates the idea of a "new kind of conservative," distinct from traditional strains.
Analysis
- neo: From Greek neos (new). A combining form meaning "new," "recent," or "revived." - con: A clipped form of "conservative." It functions as a noun-forming element in this compound.