Enemies of the State: The Radical Right in America from FDR to Trump

The rise of the alt-right alongside Donald Trump’s candidacy may be seem unprecedented events in the history of the United States, but D. J. Mulloy shows us that the radical right has been a long and active part of American politics during the twentieth century. From the German-American Bund to the modern militia movement, D. J. Mulloy provides a guide for anyone interested in examining the roots of the radical right in the U.S.—in all its many varied forms—going back to the days of the Great Depression, the New Deal and the extraordinary political achievements of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Enemies of the State offers an informative and highly readable introduction to some of the key developments and events of recent American history including: the fear of the Communist subversion of American society in the aftermath of the Second World War; the rise of the civil rights movement and the “white backlash” this elicited; the apparent decline of liberalism and the ascendancy of conservatism during the economic malaise of the 1970s; Ronald Reagan’s triumphant presidential victory in 1980; and the Great Recession of 2007-08 and subsequent election of President Obama.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: Big Government on the March: FDR and the Roots of the Radical Right Chapter 2: Wrestling the Octopus: Anti-Communism and the Radical Right Chapter 3: Resisting the Tide: Civil Rights and the Radical Right Chapter 4: Out of the Wilderness: Ronald Reagan and the New Right Chapter 5: Radicalism Rising: Conspiracies and Anti-Statism at Century’s End Chapter 6: Tea Parties and Trumpism: The Radical Right in the Twenty-First Century Conclusion A Note on Sources Index

About the Author :
D.J. Mulloy is Chair and Professor of History at Wilfrid Laurier University, where he specializes in the study of post-1945 U.S. history. He is the author of American Extremism: History, Politics and the Militia Movement (2004), and The World of the John Birch Society: Conspiracy, Conservatism and the Cold War (2014).

Review :
In 1951 William Faulker wrote, “The past is never dead.” Nothing is more prophetic than Mulloy’s excellent Enemies of the State, an account of the radical Right in the US. Mulloy takes readers on a journey through the twisted world of right-wing politics. Although many Americans are justifiably worried about the ascendancy of Donald Trump, his rise, according to Mulloy, can be traced to the growth of extremist movements emerging after the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. With the extension of the federal government came the birth of the Liberty Lobby and an assortment of organizations opposed to economic and social change. In the 1950s, this opposition was especially evident when it came to challenging the racial status quo, particularly following the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision. Mulloy links those fears, especially the fear of communism demonstrated by the John Birch Society, to the South’s massive resistance to civil rights, a resistance that continues today. Mulloy’s candid account of right-wing radicalism demonstrates that Trumpism is not a new phenomenon, but is in fact directly linked to earlier, less-successful rightist movements. Mulloy’s study is a must for anyone seeking to understand the fracturing of the American political order today. Summing Up: Essential. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates, researchers, faculty, professionals, general readers. No American history collection should be without this powerful survey of how America got to this point in time today. [This book's] highly readable and concise presentation will appeal for use in history and political science classrooms, as well as to general readers wondering how Trumpism has developed into a political ideology. This invaluable book ties together the various strands of extremism, including anti-statism, anti-communism, Fundamentalist Christianity, resistance to desegregation, and the at-times nihilistic obstruction of progress that radicals on the right have perpetuated in various forms since the 1930s…. [W]ritten for a general audience, this account will be of great interest to readers with questions about American politics. Mulloy...writes in a clear and accessible style and provides dispassionate scholarly analysis that convincingly supports his thesis. Readers seeking information about the far right will find this book enlightening. In this sweeping survey of the radical right since the 1930s, D.J. Mulloy helps us understand the rise of the Tea Party and the 2016 presidential victory of Donald Trump. Enemies of the State is a provocative and accessible introduction to the movements and the people who helped create our current political moment. D. J. Mulloy’s vivid, insightful examination illustrates the adaptability and heterogeneous nature of the American right since the New Deal. Mulloy skillfully chronicles the successes and failures of the right and reminds us that contemporary events have deep historical roots. “Enemies of the State provides a fascinating look at the development of the radical right in America. Tracing its origins as a reaction to FDR’s New Deal, the movement evolved over the years in response to broad historical trends, including the cold war, the civil right movement, and the changing demographics of America occasioned by immigration. Still, enduring themes continue to animate the radical right: a preference for lower taxes, smaller government, less bureaucracy, and fewer regulations. As Mulloy points out, Donald Trump exemplifies the radical right tradition with his populist persona and penchant for conspiracy theories. Mulloy’s book will be richly enjoyed by both academics and the general public.” In this timely and important survey, D. J. Mulloy charts the turbulent history of the Radical Right from its origins in the conservative reaction to the New Deal to the rise to power of Donald Trump. The dramatic narrative takes the reader through some of the most important turning points in post-war American history, including the domestic impact of the cold war, the civil rights revolution, and the political resurgence of conservatism. By demonstrating how the hostility of the Radical Right toward big government has reflected and reinforced the interests of mainstream politicians and big business, Enemies of the State powerfully demonstrates the disturbing impact of extremism in shaping American public life.