Books in Brief

A New Isolationism: Threat or Promise, by Robert W. Tucker (Universe Books, 127 pp., $6). The purpose of Professor Tucker’s McGovernist Manifesto is to distinguish the “new” isolationism, which he adores, from the old isolationism, which he knows has a bad reputation. He says the old isolationism was “ethnic” and reflected rural America’s xenophobia and the pro-German and anti-British bias of potent voting blocs. But today’s isolationism is enlightened, not ethnic. It probably comforts him to believe that, but it is at least arguable that today’s isolationism is just another “ethnic” isolation resting on two beliefs: Europe is safe and the United States has no proper concern with other regions, cultures, races. Senator Fulbright, who does not think the U.S. Government should be concerned about non-whites in Arkansas, explicitly exempts Europe from his isolationism on the ground of our “cultural ties” (read: Fulbright scholarships). Fulbright should like some of Tucker’s inclinations: “Whereas the old isolationism did not apply to Latin America and retained a measure of ambiguity toward Asia, a new isolationism might stop short of Europe while centering on Asia and extending to Latin America as well.” But even Fulbright might flinch from this Tucker dictum: “A Soviet Union wholly in control of Western Europe would still not be a Soviet Union posing a markedly greater threat to America’s physical security than the Soviet Union of today.” Tucker says U.S. security “is no longer dependent on what transpires outside the North American continent.” One wonders what consideration he has given to launchings of Soviet SS-9 missiles. Senator Church, whom Senator McGovern wants as Secretary of State, thinks this book is “sober.” It is thin gruel but it does full justice to McGovern’s foreign policy.

The Myths of Antitrust: Theory and Legal Cases, by D. T. Armentano (Arlington, 378 pp., $11.95). In all respects a brilliant piece of work, this book contains a gem-like statement of the theory of the free market, a critique of the theoretical basis of antitrust laws, and a history of their application in many famous cases. The history of the petroleum industry and of the Standard Oil Company within that industry is worth the price of the book. The author concludes: “Anyone who has agonized over the antitrust cases discussed in this volume does not need to be reminded that antitrust is a hoax. And a hoax, no matter how sacred, does not deserve a future. Yet the antitrust laws and the antitrust mystique are part of the conventional wisdom of a mixed enterprise system. Neither the laws nor the mystique are about to be ‘repealed.’ In fact no laws could be a safer part of the existing business regulatory system than antitrust. And the business community . . . has never opposed the laws in principle, and never will. Yet the political economy of an issue or of an economic system can be turned around. It is hoped that this book provides some leverage for that effort.” It does indeed.

About the Author

George F. Will

George F. Will has been a columnist, beginning with National Review, since 1973.

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A New Isolationism: Threat or Promise, by Robert W. Tucker (Universe Books, 127 pp., $6). The purpose of Professor Tucker’s McGovernist Manifesto is to distinguish the “new” isolationism, which he adores, from the old isolationism, which he knows has a bad reputation. He says the old isolationism was “ethnic” and reflected rural America’s xenophobia and the pro-German and anti-British bias of potent voting blocs. But today’s isolationism is enlightened, not ethnic. It probably comforts him to believe that, but it is at least arguable that today’s isolationism is just another “ethnic” isolation resting on two beliefs: Europe is safe and the United States has no proper concern with other regions, cultures, races. Senator Fulbright, who does not think the U.S. Government should be concerned about non-whites in Arkansas, explicitly exempts Europe from his isolationism on the ground of our “cultural ties” (read: Fulbright scholarships). Fulbright should like some of Tucker’s inclinations: “Whereas the old isolationism did not apply to Latin America and retained a measure of ambiguity toward Asia, a new isolationism might stop short of Europe while centering on Asia and extending to Latin America as well.” But even Fulbright might flinch from this Tucker dictum: “A Soviet Union wholly in control of Western Europe would still not be a Soviet Union posing a markedly greater threat to America’s physical security than the Soviet Union of today.” Tucker says U.S. security “is no longer dependent on what transpires outside the North American continent.” One wonders what consideration he has given to launchings of Soviet SS-9 missiles. Senator Church, whom Senator McGovern wants as Secretary of State, thinks this book is “sober.” It is thin gruel but it does full justice to McGovern’s foreign policy.

The Myths of Antitrust: Theory and Legal Cases, by D. T. Armentano (Arlington, 378 pp., $11.95). In all respects a brilliant piece of work, this book contains a gem-like statement of the theory of the free market, a critique of the theoretical basis of antitrust laws, and a history of their application in many famous cases. The history of the petroleum industry and of the Standard Oil Company within that industry is worth the price of the book. The author concludes: “Anyone who has agonized over the antitrust cases discussed in this volume does not need to be reminded that antitrust is a hoax. And a hoax, no matter how sacred, does not deserve a future. Yet the antitrust laws and the antitrust mystique are part of the conventional wisdom of a mixed enterprise system. Neither the laws nor the mystique are about to be ‘repealed.’ In fact no laws could be a safer part of the existing business regulatory system than antitrust. And the business community . . . has never opposed the laws in principle, and never will. Yet the political economy of an issue or of an economic system can be turned around. It is hoped that this book provides some leverage for that effort.” It does indeed.