From ‘America First’ to ‘Western Civilization’ or How MAGA 2.0 Learned to Love Europe

Philip Gorski’s research focuses on religion and politics in comparative and historical perspective, with a focus on Western Europe and the United States. On October 8th, the Boisi Center welcomed Gorski for a lecture titled “From 'America First' to 'Western Civilization' or How MAGA 2.0 Learned to Love Europe.” Gorski identified the key factions of the MAGA intellectual elite, explained why they took a civilizationist turn, and traced the emergence of a new trans-Atlantic right, linking religious, populist, and even neo-fascist movements in the U.S. and the EU.

Gorski began by exploring the growth of civilizationalist rhetoric among MAGA intellectuals, politicians, and influencers who are better known for more nationalist cues. His research on the subject was inspired by the speech given by Vice President J.D. Vance at the 2025 Munich Security Conference. Vance notably spoke of a “shared civilization,” a seemingly stark pivot from his previous “America-first” rhetoric. However, Gorski argues this shift can be traced back to as early as 2019, when Vance was already integrating cues related to masculinity, demography, and Christianity into his speeches.

The transatlantic civilizationist network that has developed since then has been described by Rogers Brubaker as an unusual combination of Christianity and social liberalism, most notably seen in the Netherlands’ PVV party. However, for at least some in the MAGA movement, civilization seems to have more substantial religious content, and is less tied to social liberalism. This concept began to materialize in the U.S. during the first Trump administration through white Christian nationalism rooted in conservative evangelicalism. 

Gorski argued that the movement has now shifted away from evangelical control due to the change in composition of MAGA leadership. This new version of MAGA intellectualism centers Rome and Christendom, creating a bridge between tech oligarchs of Silicon Valley and the post-liberal Catholics. Gorski identified five factions that encompass this religious right today.

Post-Liberal Neo-Integralists are classical scholars who share an ideal of a medieval West and regime change for the “common good.” Non-Denominational Pentecostals are focused on Judeo-Christian civilizationism, Zionism, and spiritual warfare, emphasizing a call to faith rather than classical or theological training. Christian Reconstructionists have Calvinist roots and a vision of Christendom and federal recognition of biblical law. Conservative Evangelicals focus on “taking back the country” and rebuilding the West. Tech-Fascists are those from Silicon Valley who have a financial incentive to explore transhumanism and the singularity.

Gorski then provided a network analysis exploring the national and transatlantic connections between prominent MAGA leaders. The connection of Western civilization and Christianity is especially centered on Hungary, Poland, and the UK, linking Europe into this movement that has become ingrained in the politics of the right.

Gorski concluded that an overlooked feature of current MAGA politics is the presence of internal cleavages between competing factions within the movement. He argued that existing theories of the movement’s evolution focus too heavily on unity among parties, where in reality there is an increasing divergence surrounding the degree of religious influence over Western civilization, who is considered a civilizational “other,” and whether anti-queer and anti-feminist politics should play a substantial role in the movement. Despite converging with transatlantic party leaders on the overall emphasis on Christianity, MAGA in particular contains a variety of distinct opinions on the geography of “civilization” and geopolitics, ultimately making it “a negative coalition held together by shared enemies and a charismatic leader.”

Lindsay Marquis, '28
Undergraduate Research Fellow