The Crisis of a Militarized Order, 1963–1969

Abstract

President Lyndon B. Johnson responded to the era’s turmoil (above all, racial violence and the failing American war in Vietnam) by declaring a “war on crime” and starting a shift of war-fighting resources to crime-fighting, advancing its militarization. Insofar as one president deserves blame for initiating the punitive turn, he does. Shaped by their understanding of World War II. both liberals and conservatives also played major roles.