Rather than moving the GOP to the "left" or "right," Trump has redefined what conservatism now means

What is it about?

The party polarization literature claims that the Democratic Party has moved to the "left," and the Republican Party has moved to the "right," in recent years. This claim is built on a fundamental misunderstanding of ideology ("The Static Spectrum Fallacy"). In reality, the meanings of "left" and "right," "liberal" and conservative," are constantly changing. As a result, it makes no sense to describe the two parties as moving to the poles of "liberalism" and "conservatism" in recent decades. Rather than moving the Republican Party to the "left" or "right," Donald Trump has, instead, helped to redefine what conservatism now means.

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Why is it important?

Political ideology is one of the most prevalent analytical concepts used by both political scientists and political commentators, but most people misunderstand and misuse this concept. Claims of "party polarization" are undermined by the reality that "left" and "right," "liberal and "conservative," are constantly evolving. For example, rather than moving the Republican Party to the "left" or "right," Donald Trump has, instead, helped to redefine what conservatism now means.