The Emergency State

In The Emergency State, David C. Unger explores how America's relentless focus on national security has expanded government powers, diverted resources, and overlooked evolving threats. Tracing the development of the security apparatus from World War II to the present, he argues that bipartisan efforts have maintained an outdated system, undermining democracy and economic health without enhancing safety. Unger offers a compelling analysis of missed opportunities to reform and rethinks strategies to better align security with democratic values for the future.