Synopses & Reviews
This concise, comprehensive primer on modern American social and political thought is the ideal introduction to the rich intellectual tradition of the United Sates. Andreas Hess helps the reader to understand of American culture and politics through careful exploration of key and theorists. In the first half of the book he focuses on the core traditions of American social and political thoughtAmerican exceptionalism, Calvinist Protestantism, republicanism, liberalism and 20th century pragmatism. The second half of the book applies these traditions to a broad range of 20th century conditions and issuespower and democracy, justice and injustice, multiculturalism and pluralism, civil society, social theory and the role of the intellectual. The works of some of the most influential figures in the field, such as De Tocqueville, Lipset, Arendt, Hartz, Pocock, Dewey, Moore, Rawls, Walzer, Rorty and Alexander, are drawn upon to illustrate the theories and issues being discussed. Accessibly written and jargon free, this treatment will be useful for students and scholars alike.
Review
"This is a good book. Its topic and argument are ambitious but the book is short and clear." -Thesis Eleven,
Review
"An insightful overview and synthesis of an important aspect of black women's history . . . A useful guide for exploring gender issues and black women's culture in myriad cities across the country."-Darlene Clark Hine,Michigan State University
Synopsis
This reader provides substantial extracts from the core texts in the field of American social and political thought. It demonstrates the rich intellectual tradition of the United States, giving an unparalleled understanding of American society and politics through the reproduction of key writings from a wide variety of thinkers.
The first part covers the core traditions of American social and political thought--American Exceptionalism, Political Theology, Republicanism, Liberalism, and Pragmatism. In the second part, texts have been selected to demonstrate the ways in which these traditions have been applied to a broad range of issues and conditions.
Exceptionally well-written and jargon-free, with helpful introductions and selections from Frederick Jackson Turner, Max Weber, Michael Sandel, John Rawls, C. Wright Mills, Sheldon Wolin, Judith N. Shklar, bell hooks, Michael Walzer and Richard Rorty, among others, American Social and Political Thought will be the core text in the field.
Synopsis
During the Progressive Era, over 150 African American women's clubs flourished in Chicago. Through these clubs, women created a vibrant social world of their own, seeking to achieve social and political uplift by educating themselves and the members of their communities. In politics, they battled legal discrimination, advocated anti-lynching laws, and fought for suffrage. In the tradition of other mothering, in which the the community shares in the care and raising of all its children, the club women established kindergartens, youth clubs, and homes for the elderly.
In Toward a Tenderer Humanity and a Nobler Womanhood, Anne Meis Knupfer documents how the club women created multiple allegiances through social and club networks and sheds light on the life experiences of African American women in urban centers throughout the country. Drawing upon the primary documents of African American newspapers, journals, and speeches of the time, this book chronicles and analyzes the complexity and richness of the African American club women's lives as they lifted while others climbed.
About the Author
Anne Meis Knupfer is Visiting Assistant Professor of Educational Studies at Purdue University.
Leonard Silk was economics columnist of The New York Times and Chairman of the Editorial Board of Business Week. Mark Silk is a staff writer for the Atlantic Journal - Constitution and coauthor, with his father, of The American Establishment.