Cold War Liberalism

Cold War Liberalism, edited by Daniel Bessner and Michael Brenes, is an academic collection exploring how liberal political thought and institutions adapted during moments of crisis in the Cold War era.

The volume brings together essays that examine the relationship between security imperatives and liberal governance, showing how emergency practices influenced policy, law, and international relations.

Contributors trace the intellectual and institutional shifts that justified exceptional measures while shaping long-term political trajectories.

The book situates debates about emergency powers within broader questions of legitimacy, rights, and state power in the twentieth century.

It is intended for scholars and students of history, political theory, and international relations interested in the intersections of liberalism and security.