George Bush leaves the White House in January 2009 and the United States goes back to "normal", right? Wrong, argues Susan George in this fascinating, thorough and often chilling account of the decades-long transformation of American society and political culture. Using the four "Ms" - money, media, marketing, management-but above all with a keen sense of mission, the American secular and religious right has made its "long march through the institutions" and changed the way Americans think.

As the left went about its business in blissful ignorance, convinced that its policies, programmes and projects spoke for themselves and would always prevail; the right's well-oiled machine of foundations, lobbies, think-tanks, publications, political cadres, lawyers and activist organisations slowly and strategically took over. A broad alliance of neo-liberals, neo-conservatives and the religious right successfully manufactured a new common sense, assaulted Enlightenment values and targeted the top of society where culture is created and legitimized, because they knew that ideas have consequences-and not just in the United States.

Hijacking America is that rarity of a book, a thoroughly researched page-turner. Clearly and gracefully written, it will enthral the general reader while providing plenty of factual nourishment for the student of politics, culture, religion or international relations. And for all those who hope for a different America in the future, the first step is to hold the present one up to the light and understand how it got that way.

Susan George is a fellow of the Transnational Institute, former vice president of ATTAC France (Association for Taxation of Financial Transaction to Aid Citizens), and former board member of Greenpeace International.

Introduction: How the Secular and Religious Right Captured America 1

1 Manufacturing Common Sense, or Cultural Hegemony for Beginners 13

2 Foreign Affairs 61

3 The American Religious Right and its Long March through the Institutions 99

4 Extinguishing the Enlightenment: The Assault on Knowledge 153

5 Lobbies, Corridors, and Seats of Power 200

Conclusion: Why Undertake this Book? 243

Notes 255

Index 271