reactionary

Reactionary refers to a political orientation that seeks to preserve, restore, or revert to a perceived earlier social, political, or cultural order, often opposing progressive, liberal, or revolutionary changes. The term is derived from the Latin reactionem, meaning “a return.” In practice, reactionaries advocate policies and institutions they see as traditional or historically legitimate, and they may idealize periods before modern reforms, such as monarchy, aristocracy, or religious authority.

The concept emerged in the early nineteenth‑century European context, particularly after the French Revolution, when conservative forces used the label to differentiate themselves from both liberals, who wanted limited reforms, and radicals, who pursued further transformation. Reactionary movements arose in restoration periods, such as the Bourbon Restoration in France (1814‑1830) and the Metternich system in Central Europe, where they supported the reinstatement of pre‑revolutionary regimes and the suppression of nationalist or liberal uprisings.

In contemporary usage, reactionary is often applied more broadly to individuals or groups who resist social change across issues like gender rights, multiculturalism, or economic policy. While some self‑identified reactionaries frame their stance as defense of cultural heritage, critics argue that the label can mask attempts to maintain unequal power structures. The term is sometimes used pejoratively by opponents to suggest inflexibility or backwardness.

Related concepts include conservatism, which generally seeks gradual evolution and preservation of institutions, and traditionalism, which emphasizes adherence to long‑standing customs. Unlike conservatism, reactionary politics explicitly call for a reversal to a prior state rather than a measured continuity. The term remains a point of debate in political theory, reflecting differing views on the legitimacy of restoring past orders versus embracing change.