This work investigates the persistent appeal of totalitarian ideologies within democratic societies despite the historical evidence of their failure and oppression. Jean-François Revel, a prominent French intellectual and journalist, utilizes his background in philosophy and political analysis to critique the intellectual climate of the mid-1970s. He argues that Western intellectuals often exhibit a self-destructive tendency to excuse or romanticize authoritarian regimes, thereby undermining the stability and moral authority of liberal democracies.

Experts recognize this book as a significant polemic that challenged the prevailing intellectual orthodoxy of its time. Readers frequently note the sharp, confrontational prose style that characterizes Revel's critique of contemporary political thought.