Conversations with Coleman Yuval Levin on What Conservatism Is for Today
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Mar 2, 2026 
Yuval Levin, political theorist and AEI director who writes on constitutionalism and civil society, joins to explore conservatism’s purpose today. He contrasts populism with institutional politics. He traces conservatism’s focus on formation, gratitude, and procedure. He discusses higher education reform, the coming politics of AI, and the Constitution’s role in holding a divided nation together.
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Conservatism Begins From Gratitude
- Conservatism starts from gratitude and a lower view of human nature, so politics focuses on conserving institutions that form virtue.
- Yuval Levin contrasts this with progressivism, which sees institutions as oppressive and seeks liberation rather than formation.
Politics Is Now Populism Versus Institutions
- American politics has both left-right and up-down (populist vs elite) divides, and today the up-down axis dominates.
- Levin argues parties have effectively swapped positions: Republicans became more populist while Democrats became more identified with institutional elites.
Time In Government Reduced Conspiracy Thinking
- Working in government made Levin less prone to conspiracy thinking because he saw day-to-day incompetence and humans making decisions.
- He learned most people in government genuinely believe they're doing the right thing, which reframes political disagreement.
