Reactionary

Definition

Relating to, marked by, or favoring reaction, typically reaction against a current social trend.

Context

The term Reactionary has its origins in the French Revolution. During that time, the National Assembly was a revolutionary body that pushed for economic reforms, leading to the overthrow of the old monarchy and feudal system. As the Assembly became divided, those favoring revolution gathered to the left, while supporters of the king gathered to the right. This division gave rise to our working image of politics: those on the left, those on the right, and those in the middle.

In the 19th century, Reactionary denoted people who idealized feudalism and the pre-modern era—before the Industrial Revolution and the French Revolution. These individuals longed for a time when economies were mostly agrarian, a landed aristocracy dominated society, hereditary kings ruled, and the Catholic Church held sway as society's moral center². Essentially, a reactionary seeks to return to a previous state of society that they believe possessed positive characteristics absent from contemporary times. So, the causes of a society becoming reactionary can vary, but often involve nostalgia for a perceived golden age or a desire to revert to a past system.