ABSTRACT
An obituary so soon! Surely the reports of neoconservatism's death are greatly exaggerated. C. Bradley Thompson has written (with Yaron Brook) the most comprehensive and original analysis of neoconservatism yet published and in the process has dealt it a mortal blow. Neoconservatism: An Obituary for an Idea reveals publicly for the first time what the neocons call their philosophy of governance--their plan for governing America. This book explicates the deepest philosophic principles of neoconservatism, traces the intellectual relationship between the political philosopher Leo Strauss and contemporary neoconservative political actors, and provides a trenchant critique of neoconservatism from the perspective of America's founding principles. The theme of this timely book--neoconservatism as a species of anti-Americanism--will shake up the intellectual salons of both the Left and Right. What makes this book so compelling is that Thompson actually lived for many years in the Straussian/neoconservative intellectual world. Neoconservatism therefore fits into the "breaking ranks" tradition of scholarly criticism and breaks the mold when it comes to informed, incisive, nonpartisan critique of neoconservative thought and action.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
chapter |10 pages
Intruduction The Neoconservative Persuasion
part |42 pages
The End of Ideology
chapter |18 pages
The Path to Power
chapter |22 pages
A New Governing Philosophy
part |35 pages
The Crisis of Modernity
chapter |16 pages
The Straussian Moment
chapter |17 pages
The Road to Nihilism
part |43 pages
The Return to Plato
chapter |21 pages
The Long Trek Back to Plato
chapter |19 pages
Classical Natural Right
part |63 pages
A New World Order
chapter |35 pages
The World According to the Neocons
chapter |25 pages
Benevolent Hegemony
part |55 pages
Soft Despotism