Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Why are so many young people drawn to radical politics? And what role do fathers, families, and faith play in shaping the next generation?
In this keynote from ARC 2026, John Papola argues that today's political radicals are following a historical pattern stretching from the Jacobins to the Bolsheviks. He explores the roots of modern radicalism, the crisis of fatherlessness, and why rebuilding strong families may be the key to renewing Western civilization.
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Buy your 1st edition copy of our new book, The Age of Reconstruction: amazon.co.uk/dp/1916948510
With the return of the ARC Conference this June, we are publishing a brand new book — the most comprehensive synthesis of ARC’s philosophy to date. Drawing on Augustine, Tolkien, and a long tradition of civilisational thinking, The Age of Reconstruction charts a path from diagnosis to renewal. While many can point out where things have gone wrong, this book does what most can’t: it lays out a vision of what we must build, how, and why it is still possible.
Praise for The Age of Reconstruction:
"Will Western Civilisation flourish, or flounder? It depends on us, and the decisions we make right now. And Johnny Patterson's wonderful 'The Age of Reconstruction' gives us the formula, based on timeless ideas and wisdom." — Arthur Brooks, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
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John Papola is a filmmaker and founder of the Emergent Order Foundation, and host of the YouTube show Dad Saves America. He is best known for the Keynes vs. Hayek Rap Battles, viewed by tens of millions, and for documentaries including At The Fork (Berlin Film Festival) and The Pursuit, starring Arthur Brooks, which premiered on Netflix.
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00:00 The timeless story of the young radical
01:42 Are today's activists the new Jacobins?
03:40 The French Revolution versus the American Founding
05:02 The crisis of fatherlessness in the West
07:07 How to raise resilient, grounded children
09:24 Why fathers must become spiritual leaders
10:00 The future depends on strong fathers
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Subscribe to the ARC Newsletter for the latest updates from the ARC movement:
arc-conference.com/subscribe
Go deeper with ARC Research. Read reports, articles, and academic papers underneath our talks - all pointed towards advancing education, promoting research, and developing ideas about the keys to human flourishing and prosperity. arc-conference.com/research-papers
If you would like to support ARC’s mission financially, firstly - thank you so much for trusting us with your resources. And secondly, find out how here: arc-conference.com/donate
If you have any questions for us, or would like to partner with us, contact us here: info@arc-conference.com
Why are so many young people drawn to radical politics? And what role do fathers, families, and faith play in shaping the next generation?
In this keynote from ARC 2026, John Papola argues that today's political radicals are following a historical pattern stretching from the Jacobins to the Bolsheviks. He explores the roots of modern radicalism, the crisis of fatherlessness, and why rebuilding strong families may be the key to renewing Western civilization.
__
Buy your 1st edition copy of our new book, The Age of Reconstruction: amazon.co.uk/dp/1916948510
With the return of the ARC Conference this June, we are publishing a brand new book — the most comprehensive synthesis of ARC’s philosophy to date. Drawing on Augustine, Tolkien, and a long tradition of civilisational thinking, The Age of Reconstruction charts a path from diagnosis to renewal. While many can point out where things have gone wrong, this book does what most can’t: it lays out a vision of what we must build, how, and why it is still possible.
Praise for The Age of Reconstruction:
"Will Western Civilisation flourish, or flounder? It depends on us, and the decisions we make right now. And Johnny Patterson's wonderful 'The Age of Reconstruction' gives us the formula, based on timeless ideas and wisdom." — Arthur Brooks, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
__
John Papola is a filmmaker and founder of the Emergent Order Foundation, and host of the YouTube show Dad Saves America. He is best known for the Keynes vs. Hayek Rap Battles, viewed by tens of millions, and for documentaries including At The Fork (Berlin Film Festival) and The Pursuit, starring Arthur Brooks, which premiered on Netflix.
__
00:00 The timeless story of the young radical
01:42 Are today's activists the new Jacobins?
03:40 The French Revolution versus the American Founding
05:02 The crisis of fatherlessness in the West
07:07 How to raise resilient, grounded children
09:24 Why fathers must become spiritual leaders
10:00 The future depends on strong fathers
__
Subscribe to the ARC Newsletter for the latest updates from the ARC movement:
arc-conference.com/subscribe
Go deeper with ARC Research. Read reports, articles, and academic papers underneath our talks - all pointed towards advancing education, promoting research, and developing ideas about the keys to human flourishing and prosperity. arc-conference.com/research-papers
If you would like to support ARC’s mission financially, firstly - thank you so much for trusting us with your resources. And secondly, find out how here: arc-conference.com/donate
If you have any questions for us, or would like to partner with us, contact us here: info@arc-conference.com


![You’ll stop using ChatGPT after listening to this | Jonathan Pageau [ARC 2026]
Jonathan Pageau closed out Day 2 of ARC 2026 with a keynote that left the whole room speechless. Amidst the many voices surrounding the global AI debate, Pageau offered a simple question that stopped us in our tracks: Who does it serve?
Buy your 1st edition copy of our new book, The Age of Reconstruction: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1916948510
With the return of the ARC Conference this June, we are publishing a brand new book — the most comprehensive synthesis of ARC’s philosophy to date. Drawing on Augustine, Tolkien, and a long tradition of civilisational thinking, The Age of Reconstruction charts a path from diagnosis to renewal. While many can point out where things have gone wrong, this book does what most can’t: it lays out a vision of what we must build, how, and why it is still possible.
Praise for The Age of Reconstruction:
Will Western Civilisation flourish, or flounder? It depends on us, and the decisions we make right now. And Johnny Pattersons wonderful The Age of Reconstruction gives us the formula, based on timeless ideas and wisdom. — Arthur Brooks, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
Jonathan Pageau is an artist, writer and public speaker. He is a pioneer in the revival of Liturgical Art for the 21st century. Through his podcast, The Symbolic World, and publishing company, Symbolic World Press, he fosters the rediscovery of symbolic thinking and a vision for re-enchantment in the world.
Subscribe to the ARC Newsletter for the latest updates from the ARC movement:
https://www.arc-conference.com/subscribe
Go deeper with ARC Research. Read reports, articles, and academic papers underneath our talks - all pointed towards advancing education, promoting research, and developing ideas about the keys to human flourishing and prosperity. https://www.arc-conference.com/research-papers
If you would like to support ARC’s mission financially, firstly - thank you so much for trusting us with your resources. And secondly, find out how here: https://www.arc-conference.com/donate
If you have any questions for us, or would like to partner with us, contact us here: info@arc-conference.com You’ll stop using ChatGPT after listening to this | Jonathan Pageau [ARC 2026]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yZUuKzDQSsI/mqdefault.jpg)

