When I first heard about the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (Arc) summit in London, I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. On the surface, it’s billed as a gathering of global leaders to discuss ‘civilisational foundations.’ But scratch beneath the surface, and what you find is a fascinating—and deeply troubling—convergence of right-wing politics, corporate interests, and cultural warfare. Personally, I think this event is less about ‘responsible citizenship’ and more about reshaping the global agenda in ways that favor a narrow, often regressive, ideology.
One thing that immediately stands out is the attendee list. Eton College, one of the most elite institutions in the UK, is sending two of its leading figures: Tom Arbuthnott and Luke Martin. Now, Eton isn’t exactly known for its radicalism, but Martin’s presence is particularly intriguing. He’s a theology master who resigned from a role in 2020 over what he called the school’s ‘progressive ideology,’ which he likened to religious fundamentalism. What makes this particularly fascinating is how his views align with the summit’s broader anti-progressive, anti-‘woke’ agenda. It’s a reminder that the battle over cultural values isn’t just happening in the streets or on social media—it’s infiltrating even the most traditional institutions.
What many people don’t realize is that Arc isn’t just a political gathering; it’s a corporate one too. Companies like BP, Philip Morris International, and Palantir are among the attendees. If you take a step back and think about it, this raises a deeper question: Why are major corporations aligning themselves with a summit that’s openly hostile to net zero policies and climate action? In my opinion, it’s because these companies see an opportunity to push back against regulations that might threaten their bottom line. The presence of fossil fuel interests and Trump donors in previous years only underscores this point.
The U.S. presence at the summit is another layer of complexity. Sarah B. Rogers, the Trump administration’s undersecretary of state for public diplomacy, is a keynote speaker. Her track record of attacking European policies on hate speech and immigration is well-documented. What this really suggests is that Arc isn’t just a British or European phenomenon—it’s part of a global movement to undermine liberal democracies. The fact that U.S. officials are openly engaging with far-right parties like Germany’s AfD marks a significant shift in American foreign policy, one that’s deeply concerning.
A detail that I find especially interesting is the strong Christian evangelical influence at the summit. The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the group behind the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the U.S., is sending over a dozen representatives. This isn’t just about abortion rights; it’s about exporting a specific brand of cultural conservatism to the UK and beyond. MSI Reproductive Choices has rightly raised concerns about this, warning that Arc could be a Trojan horse for importing U.S.-style culture wars into Britain.
From my perspective, the most alarming aspect of Arc is how it blurs the lines between the far right and the mainstream. Tim Bale, a professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, puts it well: the summit is a symptom of the collapse of the border between the far right and the center-right. Mainstream conservatives seem to be abandoning their principles in favor of aligning with more extreme voices. This isn’t just a tactical shift—it’s an ideological one, and it has profound implications for the future of democracy.
If you ask me, the real story here isn’t just the summit itself but what it represents: a global alliance of political, corporate, and religious interests working to reshape society in their image. What’s at stake isn’t just policy—it’s the very idea of progress. As someone who’s watched these trends unfold for years, I can’t help but feel that Arc is a canary in the coal mine. It’s a warning sign of where we might be headed if we don’t push back against this regressive tide.
In the end, the Arc summit isn’t just another conservative conference—it’s a blueprint for a future that many of us would rather avoid. And that, in my opinion, is what makes it so dangerous.
