Ben Woodfinden is a former director of communications for Pierre Poilievre. He has practical experience inside politics mixed with theoretical study and work as a consultant.

When Ben speaks, people listen.

Debate about first principles has finally returned to the Canadian non-left. A new, mostly younger group of conservative writers and speakers have challenged the status quo.

Young people, especially, find that Canada does not work well. Home ownership is a fairytale. Safe cities are nostalgia. And Canadian patriotism is embarrassing and unkind.

The new right refuses to accept these presuppositions. They want politicians who have a vested interest in celebrating Canada itself.

What does this mean for conservative politics? How will this debate turn out?

Ben Woodfinden makes sense of it all for us.

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AI Summary:

The New Right and Red Toryism: A Deep Dive with Ben Woodfinden In this episode of Concepts, Shawn Whatley hosts Ben Woodfinden, a consultant, doctoral student, and political theorist, to discuss the dynamics of the new right in Canada. Ben, a prominent contributor to conservative circles, highlights the generational divide in conservatism, and explores whether the real issue is young versus old rather than red versus blue. The discussion delves into political philosophy, particularly focusing on Red Toryism, a distinct Canadian tradition combining status interventionism for conservative ends. Ben also touches on the philosophical underpinnings of conservatism, the importance of grounding politics in first principles, and the future of Canadian identity. This thought-provoking episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in the evolving landscape of Canadian conservatism.

00:00 Introduction: The New Right in Canada

00:27 Meet Ben Woodfinden: A Conservative Thought Leader

01:08 The New Conservative Fight: Young vs. Old

01:21 Diving into Red Toryism

01:55 Understanding the Conservative Movement

02:20 Ben Woodfinden's Insights on Conservatism

04:30 Generational Divides in Conservatism

08:55 Philosophical Foundations of Conservatism

09:46 The Role of Government and Human Nature

18:12 Classical Liberalism vs. Conservatism

27:03 Liberalism's Historical Context and Limits

30:18 Red Toryism and Human Nature

30:54 Exploring Different Perspectives on the State

31:49 Understanding Toryism and Red Toryism

32:46 The Evolution and Misinterpretation of Red Toryism

33:49 The Canadian Conservative Tradition

35:54 The Role of the State in Canadian Society

41:16 George Grant's Influence and Philosophy

43:00 Modern Reflections on Grant's Ideas

56:08 The Importance of Belief Systems in Modern Society

59:54 Concluding Thoughts on Canadian Identity