College conservatives often view political conferences as a valuable opportunity to learn from some of the brightest conservative minds of their generation. However, what happens when these conferences take a New Right turn that some refuse to follow? Conservative gatherings like CPAC and Turning Point USA have become rife with invective and conspiratorial thinking, replacing high-minded discussions of policies and ideas. The keynote speeches are more Donald Trump than Ronald Reagan, and the crowd reflects this shift. Even bright spots, like Nikki Haley, have faced heckling and accusations of being a “RINO” despite their staunchly conservative records.
This trend is not limited to CPAC and Turning Point. The National Review Institute Ideas Summit and organizations like the Young America’s Foundation continue to provide serious events where young conservatives can have their voices heard and where ideas are taught and challenged. However, these events are the exception rather than the rule. The disparity in attendance and notoriety between the two types of events suggests a deeper shift in the American-conservative psyche: a move away from serious conversation about ideas and policy and toward crackpot conspiracy theories.
The solution to this problem may come from the fringe itself. The center of power in these conferences shifted as the broader conservative movement shifted. Like any institution, these conferences respond to their constituents from the inside. The shift toward the conspiratorial fringe, then, can be undone in some cases. CPAC maintains some modicum of normalcy that can be re-enshrined with work. College-conservative institutions like YAF that remain bastions of normal conservatism should be embraced and fortified against the mob. Another option is to build new institutions, in conservative fashion.
Conservative conferences, when done right, are among the best options available to college conservatives interested in learning more about the movement they belong to. Despite the current troubles besetting conferences, they remain invaluable tools. Rather than despairing at the lack of options, college conservatives should work to retake and rebuild them.
