Destructive Creation

Archival Summary & Scope

Challenging the conventional narrative crediting private industry with winning World War II, *Destructive Creation* reveals the true story of America's "arsenal of democracy." Based on new archival research, this book demonstrates that the massive mobilization relied not only on private companies but also on massive public investment and robust government regulation. It uncovers how business leaders, wary of the wartime government, mounted an aggressive campaign to downplay public contributions, creating a politically successful narrative that shaped reconversion and the military-industrial complex. This groundbreaking account illuminates how the struggle to define the heroes and villains of mobilization continues to influence American economic and political development.