Frank Straus Meyer (1909–1972) was an American
philosopher and political activist best known for his theory of "
fusionism" – a political philosophy that unites elements of
libertarianism and
traditionalism into a philosophical synthesis which is posited as the definition of modern
American conservatism. Meyer's philosophy was presented in two books, primarily
In Defense of Freedom: A Conservative Credo (1962) and also in a collection of his essays,
The Conservative Mainstream (1969). Fusionism has been summed up by E. J. Dionne, Jr. as “utilizing libertarian means in a conservative society for traditionalist ends.”