Introduction

This introduction examines Cold War liberalism as a significant ideological and political force in U.S. history. It argues that Cold War liberalism was characterized by two core features: a deep skepticism of mass democracy and a commitment to American global hegemony. These traits emerged as the result of Cold War liberals’ encounter with perceived existential threats, particularly Soviet communism, which led them to embrace a politics of emergency that sacrificed liberalism for a broadly defined security. While Cold War liberals achieved some progressive domestic reforms, their actions both at home and abroad often undermined liberal democratic principles. In particular, Cold War liberalism’s emphasis on the necessity of U.S. empire had long-lasting consequences, establishing patterns of domestic governance and foreign military intervention that continue to shape the world today.