Origins of the Warfare State

The post-World War II emergence of a full-blown state of perpetual war is arguably the most important feature of contemporary American politics. This book examines the "warfare state" in terms of a broad ensemble of structures, policies, and ideologies: permanent war economy, national security-state, global expansion of military bases, merger of state, corporate, and military power, an imperial presidency, the nuclear establishment, and superpower ambitions. Carl Boggs makes the argument that the "Good War" led to an authoritarian system that has expanded throughout the post-war decades, undermining liberal-democratic institutions and values in the process. He goes on to suggest that current American electoral politics show no sign of rolling back the warfare state and in fact, may push it to a new threshold bordering on American fascism.

Carl Boggs is Professor of Social Sciences at National University in Los Angeles and author or editor of numerous books. He is recipient of the Charles McCoy Career Achievement Award from the American Political Science Association.

CHAPTER 1: FROM PEARL HARBOR TO THE "ASIAN PIVOT" CHAPTER 2: MOBILIZING FOR WAR CHAPTER 3: U.S. GLOBAL POWER AND THE "HIGHER IMMORALITY" CHAPTER 4: THE CURSE OF BOMB POWER CHAPTER 5: THE NEW IMPERIAL ORDER CHAPTER 6: THE ROAD TO GLOBAL DISASTER? POSTSCRIPT: HOLLYWOOD MEETS THE WARFARE STATE