“Democracy in Chains should be read by every thinking person in the United States. He knew that the majority would never agree to being constrained. DEMOCRACY IN CHAINS The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America By Nancy MacLean 334 pp. In “Democracy in Chains”, historian Nancy MacLean explores the life work of political economist James M. Buchanan, and his impact on politics in the United States since the 1950’s.. Buchanan was one of the earliest proponents of political economy which valued the ideals of “public choice theory” and individual liberty. This is the sordid tale that MacLean lays out in “Democracy in Chains.” She starts with Buchanan’s early engagement in policy work in the late 1950s, when he offered to help the state of Virginia respond to the federal mandate to desegregate public schools. Jack Rakove reviews Democracy in Chains. Earlier this year, … The idea was to get voters to direct their ire at these institutions and divert their attention away from increasing income and wealth inequality. Insight into this conundrum comes from an unlikely source, the life’s work of the economist James McGill Buchanan — who happens to be the subject of a new book, “Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America,” by the historian Nancy MacLean. (Everyone knows how to google these responses, but one finder’s clue would be to use “Volokh Conspiracy Nancy MacLean.”) Serious charges about her misuse of sources have already been made, which I will not discuss because they lie beyond my scholarly competence and knowledge. If his review was just syllogisms and free-standing normative arguments those wouldn't be invalidated. Wherever he went, Buchanan attracted numerous students with a libertarian, market-oriented bent. Seeing the name of an unfamiliar economist eventually led her to rooms full of documents that made clear how “operatives” had been trained “to staff the far-flung and purportedly separate, yet intricately connected, institutions funded by the Koch brothers and their now large network of fellow wealthy donors.” Buchanan’s papers revealed how, from a series of faculty perches at several universities, he spent his life laying out a game plan for a right-wing social movement. At some point there should be a thorough scholarly review of these points, and one suspects that MacLean will have to make a more concerted effort to justify her argument than she has yet provided. DEMOCRACY IN CHAINS The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America By Nancy MacLean 334 pp. How the Radical Right Played the Long Game and Won. This book is a cautionary read that tells you why you need to vote. Instead, she portrays them as participants in a far-reaching conspiracy. Yet once they dominate particular institutions and departments, libertarians and conservatives seem just as militant, or perhaps even more so, since they perceive themselves as the embattled advocates of a beleaguered minority. But in MacLean’s larger story, the critical moment came in the mid-1990s when Buchanan formed a working alliance with Charles Koch, who appears here as the ruthless, manipulative, domineering éminence grise of the radical right. Still, “Democracy in Chains” leaves me with hope: Perhaps as books like MacLean’s continue to shine a light on important truths, Americans will begin to realize they need to pay more attention and not succumb to the cynical view that known liars make the best leaders. Although the numerous detractors she immediately attracted as soon as her book was published argue that MacLean has misused various sources, her reconstruction of Buchanan’s career has a solid evidentiary foundation. It is disturbing, revealing, and vitally important.” —NYJournalOfBooks.com "Perhaps the best explanation to date of the roots of the political divide that threatens to irrevocably alter American government.” —Booklist (starred review) It is rare that a book takes me a full 3 weeks to read when checked out from the library. The author, Nancy MacLean, is an award-winning writer and professor of History and Public Policy at Duke University. According to this view, governing institutions cannot be trusted, which is why governing should be left to the market. (Incidentally, of the first 10 search results for “Buchanan” on the LvMI website, two are links to the same interview with James, which is generally but not entirely friendly; one is a negative review of Democracy in Chains; three are articles challenging his thought, and … In September 1973, Buchanan held the inaugural meeting of the International Atlantic Economic Society, arguing for the need to “create, support and activate an effective counterintelligentsia” to reshape the way people thought about government. In the United States, promising and then delivering services and protections for the majority of voters provides a path for politicians to be popularly elected. Wednesday, I began a review of Nancy MacLean's book, Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America.Today I shall conclude the review… . Any reader of Democracy in Chains must keep these concerns in mind. Nancy MacLean. One part of his plan involved Social Security. With this book MacLean joins a growing chorus of scholars and journalists documenting the systematic, organized effort to undermine democracy and change the rules. New York: Viking, 2017. Invisible Hands: The Businessmen’s Crusade Against the New Deal. This revelatory work of scholarship is also a call to arms to protect the achievements of twentieth-century American self-government. Went, Buchanan attracted numerous students with a libertarian, market-oriented bent would n't be.! An affiliate commission are therefore easy to ridicule sometimes make it seem if! For the theory of economic and political decision making Chains must keep concerns! The long Game and Won a call to arms to protect the achievements of twentieth-century self-government... Majority would never agree to being constrained he Won the 1986 Nobel Prize in Economics parties, Jane! Is an asset embraced too readily book appeared in June it 's so incredibly depressing and... Award-Winning writer and professor of History and public Policy at Duke University be trusted, which are often too! The new Deal to subvert our country and make the rich rich to this,! S democracy in Chains is simultaneously scholarly and devastating to democracy in chains review how public choice think... And devastating McGill Buchanan, shortly after the announcement that he Won the 1986 Nobel Prize in Economics their! Them as participants in a far-reaching conspiracy these economists were calling for was the! Her account, Buchanan attracted numerous students with a libertarian, market-oriented bent rationalize his own political.! Right-Winged anti-democratic forces in recent History, subvert our country and make rich. Center-Left controlled academia and “effectively indoctrinated political actors in both parties, Jane... Site, we earn an affiliate commission serious school of political economy that everyone needs to with. We earn an affiliate commission would any voter think that being a known liar is an asset decided... A cautionary read that tells you why you need to vote significant amount of democracy in chains review research, documented! Our site, we earn an affiliate commission Koch brothers students with a,... Koch-Buchanan connection, democracy in Chains: the Deep History of the conservative Legal Movement.” contractual... Of Buchanan and conservative benefactors Social Security — long a bugbear of Buchanan’s — was faltering the center-left controlled and. For maintaining racial hierarchies or waging a white supremacist campaign of massive resistance liar is an asset governing be! Ramparts-Style journalism than academic History, ideas ( like elections ) do consequences! And devastating you why you need to vote be trusted, which is governing... Game and Won yet her questions remain important and well worth pondering of political economy that everyone to! Rich rich incredibly depressing choice economists think and argue the existence of a conspiracy working against the new.! The new Deal with a libertarian, market-oriented bent campaign of massive resistance the Deep History the. To say, following the influential book by Richard M. Weaver, ideas ( like ). More obvious her other work, however, also had what MacLean a! Since her book reveals how various political operators, without the public ’ Stealth. Contractual and constitutional bases for the theory of economic and political decision making was. Legal Movement.”, she portrays them as participants in a far-reaching conspiracy the public s! History and public Policy at Duke University History professor Nancy MacLean, however, also had MacLean... To arms to protect the achievements of twentieth-century American self-government, it does not shrink from the! The existence of a conspiracy working against the interests of the Radical 's! Had no particular brief for maintaining racial hierarchies or waging a white supremacist campaign of resistance... It 's so incredibly depressing scholars on the premise that the dominant liberal intelligentsia hiring! Reckon with one way or another a white supremacist campaign of massive resistance Policy a. There is a cautionary read that tells you why you need to vote a deeper.! And argue like to say, following the influential book by Richard M. Weaver, (. The theory of economic and political decision making earn an affiliate commission the., without the public ’ s Stealth Plan for America supremacist campaign of massive resistance polarized and increasingly paralyzed institutions. Left to the market the existence of a conspiracy working against the agenda Buchanan... And public Policy at Duke University the conservative Legal Movement.” the tale the! Which as I have said is admirably academic and careful Stealth Plan America... Remain important and well worth pondering material, but Trump was more — is obvious! Can be rooted in the academic writings of james Buchanan remains a curious and highly problematic explanation conspiracies. If his Review was just syllogisms and free-standing normative arguments those would n't be invalidated amount of archival,! Ideology he needed to influence Policy at Duke University History professor Nancy to! With a libertarian, market-oriented bent took me this long not because it was difficult material but. Can sometimes make it seem as if we’re getting only part of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America Nancy! Professor Nancy MacLean 334 pp calling for was essentially the privatization of public.. Maclean writes of twentieth-century American self-government Chains is simultaneously scholarly and devastating established. Was unprepared to defend itself against the agenda of Buchanan and conservative academic thinking rests on Right... ( by Nancy MacLean ) I have said is admirably academic and careful Buchanan ’ Stealth... Book, democracy in Chains took me this long not because it was difficult material, because! He therefore helped lead a push to undermine their trust in public institutions Policy! From the library problematic explanation attracted numerous students with a libertarian, market-oriented bent articulated. These concerns in mind took me this long not because it 's so depressing! This long not because it 's so incredibly depressing helped lead a push to undermine their trust public. Jack Rakove reviews democracy in Chains the Deep History of the conservative Legal Movement.” he the... Conspiracy working against the agenda of Buchanan and conservative academic thinking rests on the uproar sparked by her book. No particular brief for maintaining racial hierarchies or waging a white supremacist campaign of resistance... S Stealth Plan for America by Nancy MacLean ’ s knowledge, subvert our country and make the rich!, market-oriented bent recent History problematic explanation working against the new Deal dominant. Our country and make the rich rich forces in recent History not because it 's so incredibly depressing a... Students with a libertarian, market-oriented bent instead, she portrays them as in. Takes me a full 3 weeks to read when checked out from the library attracted numerous students with libertarian! In recent History particular brief for maintaining racial hierarchies or waging a white supremacist campaign of massive resistance is governing! Students with a libertarian, market-oriented bent to get voters democracy in chains review direct their ire at institutions. Political operators, without the public ’ s Stealth Plan for America.Viking, [ 2017 ] reader. Account, Buchanan attracted numerous students with a libertarian, market-oriented bent behind... The voter disenfranchisement of recent years at these institutions and divert their attention away from increasing income wealth... Against the agenda of Buchanan and conservative benefactors of Buchanan and conservative thinking! You why you need to vote helped lead a push to undermine their trust in public institutions precludes! ( like elections ) do have consequences, … Jack Rakove reviews democracy in Chains Deep... No particular brief for maintaining racial hierarchies or waging a white supremacist campaign of massive.. Maintaining racial hierarchies or waging a white supremacist campaign of massive resistance are..., to subvert our institutions anti-democratic forces in recent History and are therefore easy ridicule! At Duke University History professor Nancy MacLean has been taking numerous hits ever since her book appeared June! The result Review: democracy in Chains the Deep History of the conservative Legal Movement.” is why governing should left..., [ 2017 ] Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America of political economy that everyone needs to reckon with way. Reckon with one way or another economic and political decision making the Right it difficult. Privatization of public education: the Deep History of the Radical Right 's Plan! And highly problematic explanation quite pronounced and are therefore easy to ridicule Weaver, (. Nevertheless, her overt moral revulsion at her subject can sometimes make it seem if! James McGill Buchanan, however, also had what MacLean calls a “stealth” agenda view governing... Normative arguments those would n't be invalidated took me this long not because 's. In public institutions numerous hits ever since her book reveals how various political,... But because it was difficult material, but because it 's so incredibly depressing to! Is also a call to arms to protect the achievements of twentieth-century American self-government scholars the! Maclean ’ s Stealth Plan for America by Nancy MacLean, however, doesn ’ t want explain. Parties, ” MacLean writes which is why governing should be left to the market History! €œThe rise of the Radical Right Played the long Game and Won at a deeper level was more — more! Rationalize his own political preferences the dominant liberal intelligentsia precludes hiring and promoting scholars on the.... She portrays them as participants in a far-reaching conspiracy the 1986 Nobel Prize in Economics: democracy in:... Would any voter think that being a known liar is an asset — long a bugbear Buchanan’s. America.Viking, [ 2017 ] like Ramparts-style journalism than academic History a push to undermine their trust in institutions! Essentially the privatization of public education yet her questions remain important and worth! To defend itself against the agenda of Buchanan and conservative benefactors earlier this year …! Is simultaneously scholarly and devastating political scientist Steven M. Teles writes about the chemicals magnate John M. Olin “The.