Overview

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.

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9781138204355

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Reviews

While Hollywood continues to romanticize World War II as a good war, Carl Boggs portrays the war for what it was: a massive industrial onslaught of death and destruction that killed tens of millions of people and consolidated a permanent American warfare state. Rather than glorifying military violence, Boggs dispassionately explodes myth after myth of the National Security State that is today firmly in control of American power and politics. In the post-1945 world, when use of weapons of mass destruction to attack civilians has become commonplace, Boggs' critical perspective also contains a moment of hope that we might yet escape imprisonment by the military-industrial complex. George Katsiaficas, Wentworth Institute of Technology Carl Boggs brilliantly exposes the emergence of a permanent warfare state by situating it in the context of the structures, policies, and ideology underlying the U.S. mobilization during World War II and its immediate aftermath. Insightfully linking the warfare state with historical conditions that gave rise to the U.S. as a global hegemon, Boggs provides the reader with an essential understanding of the developments of the national security state and the imperial presidency since WWII . Using critical interpretive and analytical approaches, Boggs renders a lucid and compelling study that deserves both scholarly and public attention. Francis Shor, Wayne State University; Author of Dying Empire: U. S. Imperialism and Global Resistance Carl Boggs shows us how the Good War created global domination and massive destruction, taking millions of lives while propagandizing events everywhere. Historically informed, clearly written, and hard-punching, this is Boggs at his very best. Michael Parenti, Author of Profit Pathology and Other Indecencies Carl Boggs has written the most detailed, convincing, and insightful book yet to appear on the origins and spread of the warfare state. Brilliantly dissecting its history and the range and scope of the institutions it encompasses, he makes clear that the United States addiction to war is one of its most destructive characteristics. A perpetual-war psychosis now militarizes every aspect of American identity and society ruining lives, diverting funds needed for the public good, and crushing the ideals of democracy beneath its death-dealing machinery. If you believe that democracy matters, read this book. Origins of the Warfare State ranks as one of the best books of the year. Henry Giroux, McMaster University Origins of the Warfare State pries open a subject that has been nailed shut for far too long -- the ongoing bad effects of the Good War. This book should be a catalyst to explore the realities of how the United States and the rest of the world continue to suffer from dire consequences set in motion by the World War that ended more than seventy years ago. Carl Boggs challenges us to reexamine the myths and complacency that obscure the continuing harm from America's most-glorified war. Norman Solomon, Author of War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death In a world where the ruling classes and bourgeoisie are engaging in new forms of economic banditry and outlawry, creating a strategic template that inevitably leads to military intervention, financial parasitism, mafia globalism, and fascism, Origins of the Warfare State serves as a clarion call to action. Over the past three decades we have come to expect from Carl Boggs fearless scholarship in the service of social justice, and this new volume does not disappoint. Here, Boggs clearly establishes himself as both critic and visionary, reminding us again why he is one of the country's most prescient and preeminent social critics and public intellectuals. Peter McLaren, Chapman University

While Hollywood continues to romanticize World War II as a good war, Carl Boggs portrays the war for what it was: a massive industrial onslaught of death and destruction that killed tens of millions of people and consolidated a permanent American warfare state. Rather than glorifying military violence, Boggs dispassionately explodes myth after myth of the National Security State that is today firmly in control of American power and politics. In the post-1945 world, when use of weapons of mass destruction to attack civilians has become commonplace, Boggs' critical perspective also contains a moment of hope that we might yet escape imprisonment by the military-industrial complex. George Katsiaficas, Wentworth Institute of Technology Carl Boggs brilliantly exposes the emergence of a permanent warfare state by situating it in the context of the structures, policies, and ideology underlying the U.S. mobilization during World War II and its immediate aftermath. Insightfully linking the warfare state with historical conditions that gave rise to the U.S. as a global hegemon, Boggs provides the reader with an essential understanding of the developments of the national security state and the imperial presidency since WWII . Using critical interpretive and analytical approaches, Boggs renders a lucid and compelling study that deserves both scholarly and public attention. Francis Shor, Wayne State University; Author of Dying Empire: U. S. Imperialism and Global Resistance Carl Boggs shows us how the Good War created global domination and massive destruction, taking millions of lives while propagandizing events everywhere. Historically informed, clearly written, and hard-punching, this is Boggs at his very best. Michael Parenti, Author of Profit Pathology and Other Indecencies Carl Boggs has written the most detailed, convincing, and insightful book yet to appear on the origins and spread of the warfare state. Brilliantly dissecting its history and the range and scope of the institutions it encompasses, he makes clear that the United States' addiction to war is one of its most destructive characteristics. A perpetual-war psychosis now militarizes every aspect of American identity and society - ruining lives, diverting funds needed for the public good, and crushing the ideals of democracy beneath its death-dealing machinery. If you believe that democracy matters, read this book. Origins of the Warfare State ranks as one of the best books of the year. Henry Giroux, McMaster University Origins of the Warfare State pries open a subject that has been nailed shut for far too long -- the ongoing bad effects of the Good War. This book should be a catalyst to explore the realities of how the United States and the rest of the world continue to suffer from dire consequences set in motion by the World War that ended more than seventy years ago. Carl Boggs challenges us to reexamine the myths and complacency that obscure the continuing harm from America's most-glorified war. Norman Solomon, Author of War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death In a world where the ruling classes and bourgeoisie are engaging in new forms of economic banditry and outlawry, creating a strategic template that inevitably leads to military intervention, financial parasitism, mafia globalism, and fascism, Origins of the Warfare State serves as a clarion call to action. Over the past three decades we have come to expect from Carl Boggs fearless scholarship in the service of social justice, and this new volume does not disappoint. Here, Boggs clearly establishes himself as both critic and visionary, reminding us again why he is one of the country's most prescient and preeminent social critics and public intellectuals. Peter McLaren, Chapman University

In a world where the ruling classes and bourgeoisie are engaging in new forms of economic banditry and outlawry, creating a strategic template that inevitably leads to military intervention, financial parasitism, mafia globalism, and fascism, Origins of the Warfare State serves as a clarion call to action. Over the past three decades we have come to expect from Carl Boggs fearless scholarship in the service of social justice, and this new volume does not disappoint. Here, Boggs clearly establishes himself as both critic and visionary, reminding us again why he is one of the country's most prescient and preeminent social critics and public intellectuals. Peter McLaren, Chapman University While Hollywood continues to romanticize World War II as a good war, Carl Boggs portrays the war for what it was: a massive industrial onslaught of death and destruction that killed tens of millions of people and consolidated a permanent American warfare state. Rather than glorifying military violence, Boggs dispassionately explodes myth after myth of the National Security State that is today firmly in control of American power and politics. In the post-1945 world, when use of weapons of mass destruction to attack civilians has become commonplace, Boggs' critical perspective also contains a moment of hope that we might yet escape imprisonment by the military-industrial complex. George Katsiaficas, Wentworth Institute of Technology Origins of the Warfare State pries open a subject that has been nailed shut for far too long -- the ongoing bad effects of the Good War. This book should be a catalyst to explore the realities of how the United States and the rest of the world continue to suffer from dire consequences set in motion by the World War that ended more than seventy years ago. Carl Boggs challenges us to reexamine the myths and complacency that obscure the continuing harm from America's most-glorified war. Norman Solomon, Author of War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death Carl Boggs shows us how the Good War created global domination and massive destruction, taking millions of lives while propagandizing events everywhere. Historically informed, clearly written, and hard-punching, this is Boggs at his very best. Michael Parenti, Author of Profit Pathology and Other Indecencies

Author Information

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.

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