For might and right : Cold War defense spending and the remaking of American democracy / Michael Brenes.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Brenes, Michael, author.

Series:

Culture and politics in the Cold War and beyond

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Cold War--Influence.

Cold War.

Defense contracts--United States--History--20th century.

Defense contracts.

Militarism--United States--History--20th century.

Militarism.

Political culture--United States--History--20th century.

Political culture.

Political participation--United States--History--20th century.

Political participation.

United States--Politics and government--1945-1989.

United States.

United States--Economic conditions--1945-.

United States--Armed Forces--Appropriations and expenditures.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (1 online resource)

Place of Publication:

Amherst, Massachusetts : University of Massachusetts Press, [2020]

Summary:

"How did the global Cold War influence American politics at home? For Might and Right traces the story of how Cold War defense spending remade participatory politics, producing a powerful and dynamic political coalition that reached across party lines. This "Cold War coalition" favored massive defense spending over social welfare programs, bringing together a diverse array of actors from across the nation, including defense workers, community boosters, military contractors, current and retired members of the armed services, activists, and politicians. Faced with neoliberal austerity and uncertainty surrounding America's foreign policy after the 1960s, increased military spending became a bipartisan solution to create jobs and stimulate economic growth, even in the absence of national security threats. Using a rich array of archival sources, Michael Brenes draws important connections between economic inequality and American militarism that enhance our understanding of the Cold War's continued impact on American democracy and the resilience of the military-industrial complex, up to the age of Donald Trump"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter One. Where the Global Meets the Parochial

Chapter Two. The National Politics of International Stability

Chapter Three. Vietnam and Antimilitarism in the 1960s

Chapter Four. The Cold War Returns

Chapter Five. War and Peace in the "Age of Inequality"

Conclusion

Notes

Index

Back Cover

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-61376-771-4

OCLC:

1227320339