As a result of this lack of clarity, they spent much of their time dwelling on the ideological opponents that had brought them together. In part because of reservations about antagonizing a war time ally, Hayek had framed his critique of totalitarianism in The Road to Serfdom around Nazi Germany. By the time the society gathered for its fi rst meeting, however, his colleagues did not hesitate to identify the Soviet Union as their primary source of concern.

Angus Burgin, The Great Persuasion, loc. 270