The Neocon Reader

by Stelzer, Irwin

• ISBN13: 9780802141934
• ISBN10: 0802141935
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-11-19
• Publisher: Grove Press

Summary

In this anthology of essays written by today's leading neocons, Irwin Stelzer attempts to dispell many of the myths, built up by foreign and some domestic media, that have led many Americans to view neoconservatism as a radical and cohesive movement. Rather, Steltzer seeks to prove, neocons are an ecclectic group of intellectuals and politicians who agree on some major policy issues but who pride themselves on their individuality. "Neoconservatism is more of a persuasion than a movement." He also asserts that the domestic and foreign policies advocated by Bush and his supposed neocon band of ideologues may be a sharp break from the post-Cold War foreign policy consensus, but actually have deep roots in American history and are more consistent with Brittish foreign policy than many believe.

Table of Contents

Neoconservatives and their critics : an introduction	p. 3
The neoconservative persuasion	p. 31
The neocon cabal and other fantasies	p. 39
Myths about neoconservatism	p. 43
National interest and global responsibility	p. 55
Postscript - June 04	p. 75
The president's national security strategy	p. 79
New threats for old	p. 89
Doctrine of the international community	p. 105
Beyond the axis of evil : additional threats from weapons of mass destruction	p. 117
The slow undoing : the assault on, and underestimation of, nationality	p. 127
A conservative welfare state	p. 143
Broken windows : the police and neighborhood safety	p. 149
Pornography, obscenity, and the case for censorship	p. 167
The dread deficit	p. 181
Neoconservative economic policy : virtues and vices	p. 193
Philosophic roots, the role of Leo Strauss, and the war in Iraq	p. 201
Conservatives and neoconservatives	p. 213
Neoconservatism as a response to the counter-culture	p. 233
The neoconservative cabal	p. 241
Neoconservatives and the court of public opinion in America	p. 261
The very British roots of neoconservatism and its lessons for British conservatives	p. 269
The prospect for neoconservatism in Germany	p. 289
Neoconservatism in Europe : a view from Portugal	p. 299
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