The 64 essays in this volume are primarily about political economy — as opposed to either business or academic economics — and democratic government in the English-speaking nations of the Northern Hemisphere, primarily the U.S. The first, political economy, is viewed in terms of the differences between the theory of economic thought and the reality of actually existing capitalism as considered in topics such as economic growth, business cycles, globalization and monopoly power. The second, political science, is concerned with the contrast between the theory of democratic government and the reality of actually existing democracy, specifically regarding constitutional government, emergency powers, and civil liberties. While the neoliberal consensus, the unipolar world after the Cold War, and the world post-9/11 provide the context for these essays, their relevance persisted in the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic, widespread human rights protests against systemic anti-Black racism, and the profound constitutional crisis in America, which were in full force when this collection was first published. Three years later, the essays remain instructive even though geopolitical unipolarity is rapidly disappearing, the hot wars among the great powers have returned to Europe, and there is increasing demand for an illiberal Leviathan that mirrors the governance model of the powerful CEO.
Description:
The 64 essays in this volume are primarily about political economy — as opposed to either business or academic economics — and democratic government in the English-speaking nations of the Northern Hemisphere, primarily the U.S. The first, political economy, is viewed in terms of the differences between the theory of economic thought and the reality of actually existing capitalism as considered in topics such as economic growth, business cycles, globalization and monopoly power. The second, political science, is concerned with the contrast between the theory of democratic government and the reality of actually existing democracy, specifically regarding constitutional government, emergency powers, and civil liberties. While the neoliberal consensus, the unipolar world after the Cold War, and the world post-9/11 provide the context for these essays, their relevance persisted in the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic, widespread human rights protests against systemic anti-Black racism, and the profound constitutional crisis in America, which were in full force when this collection was first published. Three years later, the essays remain instructive even though geopolitical unipolarity is rapidly disappearing, the hot wars among the great powers have returned to Europe, and there is increasing demand for an illiberal Leviathan that mirrors the governance model of the powerful CEO.