First published 2014
Tom Engelhardt examines how America's intelligence operations have transformed since the 1960s revelation of an "invisible government." Where once secret agencies operated beyond presidential control, today's global security state has grown exponentially larger and more intrusive. Engelhardt argues that modern presidents have become assassins in chief, conducting covert wars while surveillance systems monitor citizens on an unprecedented scale. He traces the evolution from a national security state to a worldwide apparatus that operates with little oversight. Drawing on extensive research and historical analysis, Engelhardt reveals how wealthy interests have captured democratic institutions. The book surveys this new Orwellian landscape, showing readers how surveillance technologies and secret operations have reshaped American governance. Engelhardt connects historical patterns to current realities, demonstrating that today's security state would be unrecognizable to previous generations of Americans.
Genres: american, political-science, politics, non-fiction, 21st-century, government
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: government-corruption, whistleblower
200 pages · Kindle Edition · Haymarket Books