[6] In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, former Australian deputy prime minister John Anderson, who helped initiate the conference, said the group emerged as a response to a "civilisational" moment in which the Western world "is plagued by self-doubt and confusion" regarding its values and beliefs.

[7] In the face of this crisis, Anderson characterised the goal of ARC was to "regroup, and put forward a positive agenda"[1] by providing a better narrative than one of inevitable doom and decline.

[9] Founding documents focus on the strength of family structures, protecting "free exchange and good governance", reassessing energy and resources, and "environmental stewardship".

[6] As such the group intends to explore fresh ways that "open markets can be fostered to create prosperity for all, including those ‘left behind’ by globalisation, and the pursuit of "GDP at all costs".

[11][15] In early conversations about the movement, Peterson stressed that climate change policies were making energy unaffordable which, in turn were threatening to cut food production and push people back into poverty.

[18] Similarly, Peterson wants to see the group promote the historic, Western virtues of courage, responsibility and strength, with Stroud emphasising the values of kindness, truth, gentleness, respect and goodness.

[10] They locate this optimism in a traditional view of humanity, that "men and women of faith and decisiveness, made in the image of God, can arrange their affairs with care and attention so that abundance and opportunity could be available for all.

[10] Company records in the UK show ARC has two shareholders – the Dubai-based investment management group Legatum Ventures and the British investor and Brexiter Sir Paul Marshall.

[22] The English author and social critic Os Guinness featured on a panel discussion with Jordan Peterson, Ayaan Hirsi Ali and John Anderson.

[24][25] Reviewed as "high-brow thought and unscripted conversation" it was headlined by Jordan Peterson, with several authors and commentators, such as Douglas Murray, Ben Shapiro, Bjørn Lomborg and Jonathan Pageau.