At War with Government: How Conservatives Weaponized Distrust from Goldwater to Trump

Conservative elites have deliberately and strategically undermined faith in the political system for partisan aims, sowing distrust to build organizations, win elections, shift power, and secure policy victories. They have promoted a political identity opposed to domestic state action, used racial messages to undermine unity, and cultivated cynicism to build and bolster coalitions.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 320 pages
\n Publication date: 03 August 2021
\n Publisher: Columbia University Press
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Since the 1950s, polling has indicated a significant decline in American trust in government, reaching historically low levels. In their book, "At War with Government," political scientists Amy Fried and Douglas B. Harris argue that this trend is not accidental but rather the result of a deliberate strategy by conservative elites who benefit from it.

While distrust of authority has deep roots in American culture, conservative elites have strategically undermined faith in the political system for partisan gain. Fried and Harris detail how conservatives have sown distrust to build organizations, win elections, shift power toward institutions they control, and secure policy victories.

This strategy has been employed since the Nixon and Reagan years, with notable examples including Gingrich's Contract with America, the Tea Party, and Donald Trump's rise to presidency. Conservatives have promoted a political identity opposed to domestic state action, used racial messages to undermine unity, and cultivated cynicism to build and bolster coalitions.

Once in power, conservatives have defunded public services unless they benefit their constituencies and rolled back regulations, proving the failure of government. Fried and Harris draw on archival sources to document how conservative elites have strategized behind the scenes.

In conclusion, "At War with Government" provides a powerful diagnosis of our polarized era and proposes strategies for rebuilding trust in government by countering the tactics used by conservative elites. It is essential to understand the root causes of this decline in trust and work towards a more inclusive and responsive political system.

\n Weight: 452g\n
Dimension: 153 x 228 x 20 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780231195218\n \n