Democracy Awakening

July 31, 2023
In this muddled survey, Boston College historian Richardson (To Make Men Free) analyzes the history of the United States from its origins through the present day, reframing many of the nation’s major internal conflicts as part of an ongoing clash between “liberal democracy” and emerging “authoritarianism.” Richardson touches briefly on such events as the Civil War, the political fight over the New Deal, and the civil rights movement, arguing that these were moments when authoritarianism was thwarted by defenders of democracy who drew political strength from the liberal Enlightenment-era principles in the country’s founding documents. But according to Richardson, from the 1950s onward authoritarianism has been on the rise (she cites McCarthyism and the Reagan administration as big steps in that direction), culminating with the election of Donald Trump. At one point, Richardson acknowledges that her argument amounts to a relabeling of “conservativism” as “authoritarianism”: She explains that political opponents of the New Deal, who rallied behind a document called “The Conservative Manifesto” in the 1930s, were misappropriating the label “conservative” (which should only be fairly used, Richardson asserts, as a term for people who oppose something “radical”—which, the reader is left to assume, the New Deal wasn’t), and thus all political conservatives since have also been mislabeled. Meanwhile, she never convincingly justifies the use of the term “authoritarianism” to refer to, for example, political opponents of civil rights for African Americans. Readers will be perplexed.

Starred review from June 10, 2024

Boston College historian Richardson (To Make Men Free) argues that America is teetering on the brink of authoritarianism. In this self-narrated book, she describes the evolution of democracy in the United States and attempts to subvert it, both past and present. Because democracy was considered a radical idea in the 18th century, early lawmakers created an intricate system to ensure it would endure. However, once democracy was established, continuous work was required to prevent its subversion. Periodically, factions of wealthy individuals tried to take control of the U.S. government to establish authoritarian rule. With a clear, purposeful tone, Richardson supports her argument, citing policies of the Reagan era, such as trickle-down economics, that contrast with the democratic, bottom-up approaches of the New Deal. Richardson links past attacks on democracy to similar attempts by today's radical political factions and reminds listeners that citizens must be engaged in the political process to maintain their rights and freedoms. Although her narration of the audiobook is measured, listeners may sense her outrage as she describes how psychological manipulation and propaganda have fomented support for authoritarian leaders. VERDICT Richardson's judicious approach makes complex political issues understandable. Readers of political history and current political affairs should find this book most informative.--Joanna M. Burkhardt

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