Rationalizing capitalist democracy : the Cold War origins of rational choice liberalism / S.M. Amadae.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Amadae, S. M.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Rational choice theory.

Liberalism--United States.

Liberalism.

Capitalism--United States.

Capitalism.

United States.

Physical Description:

xii, 401 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 2003.

Summary:

In "Rationalizing Capitalist Democracy," S. M. Amadae tells the remarkable story of how rational choice theory rose from obscurity to become the intellectual bulwark of capitalist democracy. Amadae roots "Rationalizing Capitalist Democracy" in the turbulent post-World War II era, showing how rational choice theory grew out of the RAND Corporation's efforts to develop a "science" of military and policy decisionmaking. But while the first generation of rational choice theorists--William Riker, Kenneth Arrow, and James Buchanan--were committed to constructing a "scientific" approach to social science research, they were also deeply committed to defending American democracy from its Marxist critics. Amadae reveals not only how the ideological battles of the Cold War shaped their ideas but also how those ideas may today be undermining the very notion of individual liberty they were created to defend.

Contents:

Managing the national security state : decision technologies and policy science

Kenneth J. Arrow's social choice and individual values

James Buchanan and Gordon Tullock's public choice theory

William Riker's positive political theory

Rational choice and capitalist democracy

Adam Smith's system of natural liberty

Rational mechanics, marginalist economics, and rational choice

Consolidating rational choice liberalism.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 347-379) and index.

ISBN:

0226016536

0226016544

OCLC:

52153700