Definition and meaning of paleoconservatism: Paleoconservatism is a political ideology that emerged in the mid-1980s in response to what was perceived as the dominance of the Republican and Democratic parties in American politics. It is a branch of conservatism that is based on the principles of states' rights, traditional values, and an aversion to foreign entanglements. Paleoconservatism emphasizes the preservation of the nation's traditional culture and values, which are seen as being threatened by an increasingly globalized and cosmopolitan world. It is often associated with a more isolationist foreign policy, and a distrust of international organizations.