Fusionism: Liberty, Virtue, and the Future of the American Right

Join America’s Future and the Acton Institute for a book talk with author and editor Stephanie Slade at the Acton Institute on October 22, 2026, in Grand Rapids, Michigan!

Get your tickets on Eventbrite here.

Fusionism: Liberty, Virtue, and the Future of the American Right will be available for purchase both in advance and at the event.

Pre-purchase price: $20

Event price: $25

Following the talk, Stephanie will be available for a book signing.

About the Book:
In Fusionism: Liberty, Virtue, and the Future of the American Right, Stephanie Slade tells the story of a forgotten idea that once defined American conservatism. In the years following World War II, the fusionist philosophy—which united the classical liberal defense of individual freedom with the Judeo-Christian tradition of moral virtue—became the foundation of the conservative movement.

In an ironic twist, fusionism’s triumph during the Reagan years led to its decline, as its proponents no longer felt the need to explain and defend their beliefs. Today, many on the right embrace an emphatically anti-fusionist, power-oriented approach to politics that marks a sharp break from the principles of the American founding. And yet, Slade argues, it’s not too late to rediscover the dual importance of liberty and virtue. Fusionism is a lost philosophy whose time has come again.

Combining intellectual history with contemporary political analysis, Fusionism is a call to restore the ideas that once shaped the American right and made the United States exceptional. Slade makes the case that a return to fusionism is essential—not only to the health of the conservative movement but also to the survival of a free and virtuous society. (University of Notre Dame Press, 2026)