The Conservative Case for Sauron

Finally, because real conservatives value diversity, we have to look at the contrasting records of the Stewards and Sauron there as well. Denethor presides over a realm of dreary uniformity, all Men, and white Men at that. Meanwhile, Sauron has shown that a strong and vigorous realm is possible with a rainbow coalition of diversity. Mordor has Men, to be sure, but it is not just the sort of Men we have in Gondor. There are also the Men of the southern Corsairs, living in common purpose with standard Orcs, Orcs of the Uruk-Hai, Goblins, Trolls, Fell Beasts, Balrogs, ancient spider beings, and more. Moreover, they live in true equity — although Gondorians can take heart in the Dark Lord’s obvious special love for Men, in his elevation of nine of them to exalted positions in his realm. The Stewards, and certainly Denethor, have never bothered to do anything like it. When we look to the conservative coalition of the future, we don’t see it in Gondor. We do see it in Mordor.