Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI)
Conservative college student organization; founded 1953 by Frank Chodorov (Old Right, isolationist, classically liberal); William F. Buckley as first president; campus chapters, Great Books programming, in-house publishing and journal (Modern Age); turned toward nationalism and Trumpism under John A. Burtka IV (president from September 2020); 2023 inaugural American Politics and Government Summit (Field attended)
What It Is
ISI is a relatively small but influential conservative organization that hosts student events, “Great Books” programming, and supports chapters and student journalists on campuses across the country. It has its own in-house publishing house and journal (Modern Age). The organization was inspired by William F. Buckley’s God and Man at Yale and aimed to fill the “gaping void in higher education” — meaning the gaping void of conservatism. Buckley was its first president.
The Burtka Turn (2020)
In September 2020, John A. Burtka IV was appointed ISI president. Burtka attended Hillsdale College for his undergraduate degree and has a graduate degree in theology from La Faculté Jean Calvin (a Protestant Reformed seminary in France). He was a Claremont Lincoln Fellow in 2018. Under Burtka’s leadership, ISI added new programming and in 2022 opened a new conference center (endowed by Linda L. Bean). Some observers perceived a dramatic turn toward nationalism and Trumpism under Burtka; others contested that view.
2023 American Politics and Government Summit
In 2023, ISI hosted its inaugural American Politics and Government Summit at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina — where Trump flags flew on the yachts docked outside. Field attended as one of the most liberal people at the conference. The atmosphere: jokes about pronouns, “the Democrat Party,” 8-to-1 ratio of men to women on the program, general assumption that everyone was “on our side.”
Attendees included John Eastman (his wife was a speaker), Yoram Hazony, Charles Kesler, Ryan Williams, and Michael Anton. There were also classical liberals and fusionist types in attendance. The final keynote speaker was Robert P. George, who gave a moderate, fusionist address that Field describes as “shadow boxing with the New Right.”
Cross-References
- Robert P. George — final keynote speaker at the 2023 summit
- John Eastman — attended 2023 summit
- Claremont Institute — ideologically overlapping; John A. Burtka was a Claremont Lincoln Fellow
- National Conservatism — the movement ISI has increasingly aligned with under Burtka
- Hillsdale College — Burtka’s undergraduate alma mater