Politics in Our Time: Authoritarian Peril and Democratic Hope in America’s 21st Century

My book asks why democratic politics have become so difficult to do well in contemporary America; why authoritarianism has become so appealing to so many people; and where a democratic renewal, if it is to happen, is likely to begin. The book ranges widely, with sections devoted to authoritarian peril; the rise of “neofeudalism”—centers of corporate power too strong for national legislatures to control; the challenge of doing democratic politics in moments of existential fear (COVID, George Floyd, climate); and a changing world order. My work has a historical cast: I scour the past for insights that might help us to understand the present and future. In 2025–2026, I will be researching both neofeudalism, with a focus on the barons of Silicon Valley, and how existential fear impacts democratic politics—in the 1960s and today.

I would ask students to assemble bibliographies of books, articles, and social media posts; read widely in relevant literatures and prepare memos for me on topics that I assign them; and discuss their findings with me. Students will learn how to place current events—and perhaps their own current concerns and activism—in a rich political and historical context.