Synopses & Reviews
What is America? Is it a hegemonic superpower, composed of ruthlessly selfish capitalists? Or is it a land of hope and glory, a shelter for the huddled masses, and a beacon of freedom and enlightenment? The definition of this complex nation has been debated substantially, yet all seem to agree on one thing: it is unique. The idea of an exceptional America can be traced all the way back to Alexis de Tocqueville's nineteenth-century observations of a newly formed democracy that seemed determined to distinguish itself from the rest. Little, it seems, has changed.
Building on de Tocqueville's concept of American exceptionalism, this collection of essays, contributed by some of the nation's top scholars and thinkers, takes on the weighty task of sizing up America in a way its people and others can comprehend. Far more than simple history, they outline the current state of American institutions and policies--from the legal system to marriage to the military to the Drug War--and anticipate where these are headed in the future.
Synopsis
A rich, thought-provoking exploration of Americas quintessential values, institutions, and challenges, by the nations top scholars
Synopsis
The idea of an exceptional America remains controversial. In this dazzlingly comprehensive collection of essays, some of the nations best scholars and thinkers take on the weighty task of sizing up Goliath in a way Americans and others can comprehend. These twenty studies in American exceptionalism provide a solidly researched and in-depth analysis on the current state of our institutions, our values, and our challenges for the future.
About the Author
Peter H. Schuck is the Simeon E. Baldwin Professor of Law at Yale Law School. He is the author of several books.
James Q. Wilson, a former president of the American Political Science Association, and a former professor at Harvard and UCLA. He was decorated with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nations highest civilian award.