The Twilight of Authority

In 'The Twilight of Authority,' Robert Nisbet explores the relationship between the decline of traditional morality and the rise of the state.

He argues that the centralization and individualization of power have led to a combined hedonism and egalitarianism, which reflect the destructive impact of power on social hierarchy.

Nisbet views the state as the great enemy of social authority and civic associations created by voluntary interaction, emphasizing the need to find means of generating a social order that supports individual initiative and community.