The Decline of American Liberalism

by Arthur A. Ekirch Jr.

Book Overview

From the Revolutionary War and World Wars I and II to the Great Depression and civil rights battles, this chronicle takes a historical look at how principles such as individual liberty and democratic rule have weathered the last few centuries. The growth of state empowerment and its effect on autonomy and the economy is also discussed.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1598130277
• ISBN13: 9781598130270
• Release Date: April 2009
• Publisher: Independent Institute
• Length: 440 Pages
• Weight: 1.51 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

An outstanding historical interpretation

This work takes the reader through a review of American history to show how liberalism has changed from the philosophy of individual and economic freedom to that of advocacy for ever increasing state control over all aspects of human endeavor. Even though it is clear that Ekirch views our history as the story of decline from its founding principles, he presents his study in such dispassionate terms that any fair minded reader can profit from his analysis. Ekirch warns of the dangers to liberty (liberalism) of war, nationalism, government intervention and majoritarian democracy. His concluding chapters instruct us on the development of the national security state and the emphasis on national loyalty. This important work will be welcomed back in print by all who wish to see this country renewed on the basis of "liberty, peace and the rule of law."

A more insightful retelling of the American historical narrative

Nobel laureate Gary Becker is known to observe that people have an inherent bias against free markets, because the notion that individuals acting in self-interest often produce better results on behalf of their fellow citizens than public agencies directed by democratically elected officials, however evident, is "just too counter-intuitive." In "The Decline of American Liberalism," Ekirch does for history what Becker and his colleagues have done for economics: provide a robust intellectual defense in favor of liberty. While this might be considered a fringe interpretation of history, it is by no means hyperbolic, polemic, distorted or reactionary. By all appearances, and judging by the comments of professional historians, it is impeccably researched and largely dispassionate in its portrayal of events and attitudes. It continuously acknowledges the mainstream view, even if only to manifest the naïveté thereof in some cases. In fact, I was tempted to put this book down halfway into it, as it had thus far seemed a rather pedestrian rehash of the usual Jeffersonian vs. Hamiltonian and pro-slavery vs. abolitionist historical narrative that I was taught in school. But that all changes beginning with post Civil War reconstruction. The vast degree to which wealth and privilege then began being permanently transferred from individuals to corporations under the guise of new citizen entitlements (which in many cases merely displaced the jurisdiction of states to administer such entitlements, thereby effectively nullifying the individual's previous right to opt out by relocating) is truly astounding, and almost wholly discounted by mainstream history as I know it. There is still an unacknowledged elephant in the room, however. The role of the 16th amendment (and the questionable circumstances surrounding its ratification) is mostly overlooked, despite the fact that its timing also coincides with the era of most rapid decline. But in all, this is a profound indictment of the current political and socioeconomic situation, of the process through which it came about, and of mainstream histories that unduly defend or excuse both of the former. A conscientious student of American history would do well to give it ample consideration, if only to appreciate the range of valid interpretations.

Should be Required Reading in American High Schools

This review is on the 2009 edition, although I did not compare it to the earlier editions of 1955 and 1966. At any rate the ideas are not new, but the events in 2009 where American politicians and the Presidency have taken the United States on a giant leap to the left and collectivism (Socialism, Marxism and big government) have made this book more important than ever. The gist of the matter is that liberalism as originally defined in the 18th century and earlier meant limited government and a maximum of individual liberty for the population of a country to determine its own and individual way of life. As the author states, the apogee of this movement was reached shortly after the American Revolution and began to decline after the Jefferson Presidency. The publisher of this work, the Independent Institute, has published a number of works from the viewpoint of maximizing individual liberty, most notable Eland's book selecting the best presidents by virtue of their governing least and maximizing individual liberty. In line with this thinking, Presidents like Wilson, Roosevelt and Obama rank among the worst as they increase the size of the Federal Government, reduce individual liberty, and move the country towards collectivism. Today, liberals no longer espouse the liberal philosophy of the 18th century -- libertarians do (as much as possible.) Liberals have sought to maximize social engineering, creating a massive government bureaucracy dedicated to governing the lives of American citizens supposedly for their own good. One of their heroes, Walter Lippmann even adressed the idea that social engineering needed to be extended into procreation in that actions needed to be taken to assure the "best" Americans breed while undesirables do not. Gee, that sounds like Hitler and the SS, but I digress. This is not liberalism -- it is tyranny. Or so the author argues (correctly.) Inherent in this philosophy is the concept that government by definition is the enemy of liberty since to govern means to restrict individual liberty for the collective good -- like requiring all people to drive on the right side of the road. An even better and more contemporary example is political correctness, probably the most heinious and devastating attack on individual liberty in the U.S. since its formation. The author dwells on the curse of slavery and the problem of attempting to build a free society with competing, easily identified, and possibly always antagonistic groups within a country. Ekirch downplays nationalism as a force generally leading to conflict, but within a society, the lack of a single culture, single religion, single language, single race, and single ethnicity also leads to conflicts, sometimes that can be resolved only at great cost. The problem with the concept of liberty, of course, is that a country espousing such a concept is unable to defend itself and its resources against a well-organized tyranny, based on race,

Great history of the American ideal

Ekirch tells the history of the liberal ideal in America, from the founding though to the end of the Second World War. Both modern Conservatices and Liberals will find this book fascinating as he traces the ideal of individual liberty, democratic rule and how it has stood up through a revolutionary war, a civil war, two world wars, the depression, and civil rights. The author leaves you holding mixed feelings by the end of the book - you can't help but bemoan the obvious fact that civil liberties have and will probably continue to erode with every new challenge that befalls America, but at the same time the country seems to be blessed with some kind of resiliency that allows itself to weather and at least sustain the endless attack on the individual.