
The Right-Wing Idea Factory
From Traditionalism to Trumpism
Donald F. Kettl(Author)
Oxford University Press Inc
Will be published approx. on 4. August 2026
Book
Hardback
248 pages
978-0-19-777829-6 (ISBN)
Description
An incisive analysis of one of the most disruptive forces in modern American politics, The Right-Wing Idea Factory is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the fundamental transformation of conservatism in the Trump era and beyond.
While Donald Trump's 2024 re-election was hailed by many as a personal triumph, political scientist Donald F. Kettl argues it marked the apex of a movement that began long before Trump entered politics--and one that will continue to shape the American landscape long after he's gone.
In The Right-Wing Idea Factory, Kettl traces the rise of a revolutionary political force that has redefined the American right. Fueled by soft money and amplified by social media, a network of determined activists and organizations worked to dismantle traditional free-market conservatism and replace it with a populist agenda rooted in cultural and social issues. From abortion and gender to critical race theory, book bans, immigration, and the "deep state," this movement built a powerful new political base--one designed not just to win elections, but to reshape the rules of governance for generations.
Kettl reveals how this idea factory has profoundly influenced policy at every level of government, driving polarization and upending long-standing political norms. With sharp insight and deep research, he offers a vital account of how the American right has evolved--and what that means for the future of democracy.
While Donald Trump's 2024 re-election was hailed by many as a personal triumph, political scientist Donald F. Kettl argues it marked the apex of a movement that began long before Trump entered politics--and one that will continue to shape the American landscape long after he's gone.
In The Right-Wing Idea Factory, Kettl traces the rise of a revolutionary political force that has redefined the American right. Fueled by soft money and amplified by social media, a network of determined activists and organizations worked to dismantle traditional free-market conservatism and replace it with a populist agenda rooted in cultural and social issues. From abortion and gender to critical race theory, book bans, immigration, and the "deep state," this movement built a powerful new political base--one designed not just to win elections, but to reshape the rules of governance for generations.
Kettl reveals how this idea factory has profoundly influenced policy at every level of government, driving polarization and upending long-standing political norms. With sharp insight and deep research, he offers a vital account of how the American right has evolved--and what that means for the future of democracy.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Dimensions
Height: 212 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
417 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-777829-6 (9780197778296)
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Donald F. Kettl is Professor Emeritus and former Dean at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. He is also a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. Kettl is the author or editor of 25 books, including Experts in Government: The Deep State from Caligula to Trump and Beyond (2023) and Bridgebuilders: How Government Can Transcend Boundaries to Solve Big Problems (with William D. Eggers, 2023). He has received six lifetime achievement awards, and three of his books have received national best book awards.
Content
- Preface
- 1. A Factory for Power
- 2. The Grassroots Uprising
- 3. The New Populists
- 4. Abortion and the Populist Turnaround
- 5. Grassroots Power and Racial Politics
- 6. Policy Oligarchs and Policy Clusters
- 7. The Global Right-Wing Idea Factory
- 8. The Death of Traditional Conservatism
- 9. The Pathology of Power
- Appendix
- Notes
- Index