In the Shadow of Korematsu, Eric K. Yamamoto
In the Shadow of Korematsu, Eric K. Yamamoto
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In the Shadow of Korematsu
Democratic Liberties and National Security

Author: Eric K. Yamamoto

Narrator: David Shih

Unabridged: 6 hr 27 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 08/28/2018


Synopsis

The national security and civil liberties tensions of the World War II mass incarceration link 9/11 and the 2015 Paris–San Bernardino attacks to the Trump era in America—an era darkened by accelerating discrimination against and intimidation of those asserting rights of freedom of religion, association and speech, and an era marked by increasingly volatile protests. This book discusses the broad civil liberties challenges posed by these past-into-the-future linkages, highlighting pressing questions about the significance of judicial independence for a constitutional democracy committed both to security and to the rule of law. What will happen when those profiled, detained, harassed, or discriminated against under the mantle of national security turn to the courts for legal protection? How will the U.S. courts respond to the need to protect both society and fundamental democratic values of our political process? Will courts fall passively in line with the elective branches, as they did in Korematsu v. United States, or serve as the guardian of the Bill of Rights, scrutinizing claims of "pressing public necessity" as justification for curtailing fundamental liberties?

About Eric K. Yamamoto

Eric K. Yamamoto is the Fred T. Korematsu Professor of Law and Social Justice at the William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii. He is nationally and internationally recognized for his legal work and scholarship on civil procedure as well as national security, civil liberties, civil rights, and social justice, with an emphasis on reconciliation initiatives and redress for historic injustice. Professor Yamamoto has received eight "outstanding law teacher awards," including the Outstanding Law Professor for 2006 from the nationwide Society of American Law Teachers. He has also received the University of Hawaii's highest honor-the Regents Medal for Teaching Excellence. He authored Interracial Justice: Conflict and Reconciliation in Post-Civil Rights America and coauthored, with Margaret Chon, Race, Rights and Reparation: Law and the Japanese American Internment. He has published over eighty articles and book chapters. He has been a visiting professor at the University of California Berkeley School of Law, the Santa Clara Law School, and the City University of New York Law School. He has delivered many keynote addresses and distinguished lectures, including presentations at Berkeley, Michigan, and Harvard, and in Paris, Seoul, Hokkaido and Oxford.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Alice on May 03, 2026

This book is not just history it’s a warning. Yamamoto brilliantly exposes how the shadow of Korematsu v. United States still lingers in modern policy and thinking. The parallels drawn between World War II internment and post-9/11 America are deeply unsettling. Every citizen who values freedom shoul......more

Goodreads review by Kirk on May 03, 2026

This is one of the most compelling legal analyses I’ve read in years. Yamamoto doesn’t just critique the courts he challenges them. His discussion on judicial independence is sharp, thought-provoking, and absolutely necessary in today’s political climate.......more

Goodreads review by Norman on May 03, 2026

The emotional weight of this book is undeniable. By connecting past injustices to events like the Paris attacks, the author shows how fear continues to shape policy. It’s a sobering reminder of how quickly rights can disappear.......more

Goodreads review by Willie on May 03, 2026

What stands out most is the courage of this book. It dares to question whether courts will stand firm or fail again as they did in Korematsu. The argument is clear: democracy survives only when institutions defend it even under pressure.......more

Goodreads review by Christopher on May 03, 2026

In a world still grappling with the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, this book delivers an unflinching look at how easily civil liberties can be compromised. Yamamoto writes with clarity and authority, making complex legal issues accessible and deeply relevant.......more