This book investigates the nature of police states and explores the potential for such a system to emerge in American history. Archer, a prolific historian known for his accessible yet critical analyses of American social and political movements, examines numerous twentieth-century examples of authoritarian regimes. He then turns his attention to the United States, posing the provocative question of whether similar conditions could arise domestically.

The book's direct examination of historical police states and its application of these lessons to American society suggests a work intended to provoke thought and discussion among a general readership interested in political science and history. Its comparative approach likely offers a framework for understanding authoritarian tendencies. The author's focus on a critical question about the United States implies a potentially cautionary or analytical tone.