Fear Itself: The New Deal and the Origins of Our Time

Examining the New Deal through the lens of existential fear, Ira Katznelson reveals how the era was shaped by the collapse of capitalism and the rise of dictatorships, alongside deep racial divisions in American society. He argues that American democracy was both preserved and distorted by a compromise that maintained racial segregation while establishing a new national state. The book explores the evolution of the modern American state, highlighting the shift from a belief in the common good to a government influenced by interest-group politics and national security concerns.