The Struggle for Public Goods in the Shadow of Fascism

The Struggle for Public Goods in the Shadow of Fascism examines the present diminishment of democracy through the prism of intensifying conflict between market freedom and citizen rights. The fate of democracy is at the center of this book’s exploration of the decline of the welfare state and rise of radical right politics. Sources of hope in difficult times as expressed by artists and organizers are underscored as a constructive way forward. The rise of radical right politics has in part been fueled by the political capitalization of resentment and economic elite interest. State policies supporting basic functions of the welfare state, such as service benefits, anti-discrimination laws, and market regulation, are in the crosshairs of radical right politics. The welfare state is seen as undermining market interests and displacing “heritage citizens.” Therefore, a primary intention of radical right politics is the disassembly of the welfare state. Providing an important history of American social welfare, all of these are unpacked with careful attention and scrutiny to enable readers to perceive not only the winding path to how we got here but also the stakes in the current predicament. Tracing out the impact of the rise of far-right politics on American political discourse and social policy, this text will be an important resource for researchers, instructors, and students in sociology, social theory, social policy, human services and public administration, and American and political studies.