Atlas asunder? Neo-liberal think tanks and the radical right.

This article examines how neoliberal thought leaders within the Atlas Network—a global coalition of approximately 500 free market think tanks and campaign groups—respond to the rise of radical conservatism, often termed the "radical right." Through qualitative analysis of 146 documents published by 52 Atlas affiliates between 2017 and 2022, the study finds a consistent adherence to core neoliberal principles such as globalization and marketization, alongside a pronounced focus on opposing left-wing political actors. In contrast, the network largely exhibits strategic and selective ignorance toward the radical right, showing indifference or accommodation rather than confrontation, which may enable illiberal and authoritarian tendencies within that movement. The article highlights the ideological tensions and potential political consequences of this stance, suggesting that neoliberalism's relationship with radical conservatism is complex, marked by both historical precedents of accommodation and contemporary risks to liberal democratic institutions.