The article explores the evolution of the Republican Party since World War II, dividing it into three phases: pre-Reagan, Reagan, and the current Trump-influenced phase. It highlights the influence of William F. Buckley Jr. as a cornerstone of Reagan's conservative movement while suggesting that his legacy faces scrutiny due to the emergence of Trump’s populism. The continuous ideological shifts within the party illustrate a pattern of discontinuity, challenging traditional narratives of Republican identity and complicating the historical understanding of its evolution.
Buckley, considered the epitome of Reagan Republicanism, shaped conservative orthodoxy and influenced GOP identity, yet his legacy is questioned in light of Trump's populism.
The transformation of the Republican Party over the past 80 years has led to significant ideological shifts, suggesting more disruption than continuity in political alignments.
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