Frank Meyer (political philosopher)

Frank Meyer
Born(1909-05-09)May 9, 1909
DiedApril 1, 1972(1972-04-01) (aged 62)
SpouseElsie Bown
Children2
Education
Alma materBalliol College, Oxford (MA)
Philosophical work
Era20th-century philosophy
RegionWestern philosophy
Notable ideasFusionism

Frank Straus Meyer (/ˈm.ər/; May 9, 1909 – April 1, 1972) was an American philosopher and political activist best known for his theory of "fusionism" – a political philosophy that unites elements of libertarianism and traditionalism into a philosophical synthesis which is posited as the definition of modern American conservatism. Meyer's philosophy was presented in two books, primarily In Defense of Freedom: A Conservative Credo (1962) and also in a collection of his essays, The Conservative Mainstream (1969). Fusionism has been summed up by E. J. Dionne, Jr. as "utilizing libertarian means in a conservative society for traditionalist ends".