The End of the Revolution

The American political system is now ruled by a president with extraordinary power over who gets what, and who lives or dies. William G. Howell and Terry Moe's new book, Trajectory of Power: The Rise of the Strongman Presidency (2025), argues this is because of the Republican party and political conservatives. I review their book in light of the present political moment, and the broader scholarly tradition that preceded it. The book raises a series of important questions about how scholars should respond to this historical moment—and about the potential downsides of social scientists producing works of political advocacy. I argue that, even now, the United States still needs people willing to study its political institutions with care and objectivity.