Ezra's Bookshelf

Regime Change

by Patrick Deneen · 289 pages

Patrick Deneen's 'Regime Change' extends the critique of liberalism he developed in 'Why Liberalism Failed' into a proposal for what should replace it. Deneen, a political theorist at Notre Dame, argues that liberalism, understood as the political philosophy prioritizing individual autonomy and choice, has systematically destroyed the traditions, communities, and institutions that once gave ordinary people's lives meaning and security. The book's most controversial argument is that a new conservative elite should replace the current progressive elite, using state power to support working-class interests and traditional values. Deneen draws on the tradition of Catholic social thought, particularly the concept of subsidiarity, to envision a society where families, churches, and local communities have real authority rather than being subordinated to markets and bureaucracies. He addresses likely objections, including concerns that his vision is authoritarian or theocratic, by distinguishing between a politics of common good and mere majoritarianism. Whether readers find Deneen's arguments persuasive or alarming, the book represents a serious effort to imagine alternatives to the liberal consensus that has dominated American politics. Those seeking to understand the intellectual foundations of postliberal conservatism will find this essential reading.