Recapping our First School of Conservative Studies Conference: Prospects for Anglo-American Conservatism in the Tradition of Russell Kirk and Roger Scruton
On June 27–28, 2025, the Russell Kirk Center welcomed more than 130 participants and twenty-two speakers from around the world for a very special conference, “Prospects for an Anglo- American Conservatism in the Tradition of Russell Kirk and Roger Scruton.” This inaugural gathering of the Kirk Center’s new School of Conservative Studies was co-sponsored by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and Hungary’s University of Public Service, Ludovika.
Over two days of conversation, we explored the continuing relevance of the Anglo-American conservative tradition as articulated by two of its most thoughtful champions—Russell Kirk and Roger Scruton. Drawing on their complementary visions, speakers considered the philosophical, cultural, religious, and educational dimensions of conservatism, especially at a time when its intellectual depth and humanistic foundations are too often misunderstood or ignored.
Conference co-organizers Jeffrey O. Nelson, Ferenc Hörcher, and Daniel Pitt brought together a remarkable group of scholars from across the United States and Europe. These voices—including both seasoned academics and members of the rising generation—offered a rich blend of academic rigor and hopeful vision.
This gathering was a significant moment in the Kirk Center’s 30-year history as it strengthened international partnerships and expanded our scholarly network. We’re especially pleased to announce that a book of essays drawn from the proceedings is now underway—one that we hope will advance the field of conservative studies and extend these conversations to a wider audience.
We are deeply grateful to our international partners and to all who helped make this event a success. The Russell Kirk Center looks forward to continuing this important work—and to welcoming future generations of thinkers into a living conservative tradition.
If you were unable to join us in person, we’re pleased to share that videos of the panels will be available in the coming months on our YouTube channel. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the photos from the conference below. Learn more about our School of Conservative Studies as well as upcoming course offerings here.
“I came to learn about the thinkers I don’t know much about but whose ideas I thought I might find illuminating. I was not disappointed! This weekend provided an excellent introduction to Kirk and Scruton and to the warm, collegial, and hospitable people carrying their legacy forward. I was struck by the recurring themes of inheritance and of lineage. The links between generations – parents, children, teachers, and students – were on such beautiful display and made me grateful for the mentors who shaped my own intellectual and faith formation. It is invigorating and inspiring to meet with like-minded people at gatherings like this.”
“This conference was incredibly informative [and] one of the best conferences I have ever attended. It deepened my understanding of Kirk and Scruton, but also of the conservative tradition at large. The presentations were diverse and complementary, highlighting the role of conservatism in culture, religion, and other facets of life. I came out with a significantly stronger sense of the place of conservatism in the modern world. There are very few places where the place of traditional conservatism can be examined in both rigorous and accessible terms. This event, which was opened to the public but brought scholars from around the world together, provided such a forum. The panel on religion was especially memorable for me – reflections on the place of modern science in relation to faith, a theme of paramount importance today.”
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