Synopses & Reviews
Though Americans rarely appreciate it, federalism has profoundly shaped their nationa (TM)s past, present, and future. Federalisma the division of government authority between the national government and the statesa affects the prosperity, security, and daily life of every American. But while the debate over the proper role of each level in public policymaking often gets stuck in heated debates over principle, Robertson shows that federalism is best understood as a strategic tool. These philosophical disputes usually cloak the real purpose behind the struggle over state versus national power: to get government to do something that they want it to do, or to prevent government from doing something they want to prevent.
Robertson also shows that past choices shape present circumstances, and that a deep understanding of American government, public policy, political processes, and society requires an understanding of the key steps in federalisma (TM)s evolution in American history. Once its framers fixed federalism in the U.S. Constitution, Americans became accustomed to it and built it into new government activities, leading to further fragmentation in the political system. This nuanced and comprehensive overview of federalism allows students to see that both major political parties throughout the countrya (TM)s past have swapped positions on the debate when it has suited other goals, such as conflicts over race and economic growth. Both liberals and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans, still use federalism as an expedient tool to deal with difficult issues such as the corporate behavior, the environment, education, abortion, gay rights, and other pressing policy agendas. Federalism and the Making of America is a sorely needed text that treats the politics of federalism systematically and accessibly, making it indispensible to all students and scholars of American politics.
Synopsis
Though Americans rarely appreciate it, federalism has profoundly shaped their nation 's past, present, and future. Federalism the division of government authority between the national government and the states affects the prosperity, security, and daily life of every American. In this nuanced and comprehensive overview, David Brian Robertson shows that past choices shape present circumstances, and that a deep understanding of American government, public policy, political processes, and society requires an understanding of the key steps in federalism 's evolution in American history.
The most spectacular political conflicts in American history have been fought on the battlefield of federalism, including states rights to leave the union, government power to regulate business, and responses to the problems of race, poverty, pollution, abortion, and gay rights. Federalism helped fragment American politics, encourage innovation, foster the American market economy, and place hurdles in the way of efforts to mitigate the consequences of economic change. Federalism helped construct the path of American political development. Federalism and the Making of America is a sorely needed text that treats the politics of federalism systematically and accessibly, making it indispensible to all students and scholars of American politics.