ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book aims to determine why the United States has fallen under right-wing rule, why conservatism, variously defined, has achieved something approaching dominance in popular discourse. It investigates the decline of New Deal liberalism in American politics from a position of political dominance in the years following Second World War to its current marginality. The book addresses the issues of political decay, and investigates the failures embedded in America's key political institutions. It examines the emergence of Donald Trump as a presidential candidate and the appearance of the "Alt-Right" on the new social media and, in some instances on the streets as well. The book considers the relevance of "fascism" and "populism" to the Trump phenomenon. It concludes with expressing skepticism about how dangerous the Trump presidency is going to prove.
