The gravest decision in a democracy is the one to go to war. Describing unilateralism as "the oldest doctrine in American history", Schlesinger nevertheless warns of the dangers posed by the fatal turn in US policy from deterrence and containment to preventive war. He writes powerfully about George W. Bush's expansion of presidential power and the revived Imperial Presidency (a phrase Schlesinger invented). He reminds Americans of their distinguished legacy of patriotism through dissent in wartime, calling on them to honour that tradition even in the face of their need for security. He reminds us of the inscrutability of history.
Table of Contents
1. Unilateralism: The Oldest Doctrine in American Policy 2. Eyeless In Iraq: The Bush Doctrine and Its Consequences 3. The Imperial Presidency Redux 4. Patriotism and Dissent in Wartime 5. How to Demcratize American Presidency 6. Has Democracy A Future? 7. The Inscrutability of History
Author Biography
Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr is the author of The Disuniting of America: "The best book I have read this year-and indeed for many years" (The Spectator), a "punchy" (The Sunday Telegraph), "eloquent attack on political correctness" (The Economist).
