Synopses & Reviews
In this illuminating look at what constitutes American citizenship, Judith Shklar identifies the right to vote and the right to work as the defining social rights and primary sources of public respect. Shedemonstrates that in recent years, although all profess their devotion to the work ethic, earning remains unavailable to many who feel and are consequently treated as less than full citizens.
Review
Professor Shklar's book is powerful and profound. She presents an argument that is, in many respects, original. That is, once you take in what Shklar is saying, you wonder why no one else had said it before: it is right, it is illuminating, it had been waiting to be said, it emphatically needs saying. The book is wonderful and rare. George Kateb, Princeton University
Review
"Shklar has produced a compelling argument that the right to vote and the right to a job, neither of which was written into the constitution, are nevertheless necessary for full and equal American citizenship."
--Washington Monthly"As always, one learns from reading Shklar...The book provides an excellent interpretation of what American citizenship has meant historically."
--Political Science Quarterly"A short but very potent exploration of the actual meaning of citizenship for Americans...A spirited defense of the highly privatized vision of politics which is certainly the norm in America."
--International Journal of Comparative SociologyReview
As always, one learns from reading Shklar...The book provides an excellent interpretation of what American citizenship has meant historically. Political Science Quarterly
Review
The thesis of Judith Shklar's American citizenship is strong, freshly original, completely persuasive--good sense raised to a higher power...It is a deceptively modest small work which achieves large things...Shklar's book will receiev an enormous amount of well-deserved attention: for she has a genius for doing what Hegal was so supremely good at "capturing" the ethos of a nation and an age with utter persuasive precision Patrick Riley, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Review
A short but very potent exploration of the actual meaning of citizenship for Americans...A spirited defense of the highly privatized vision of politics which is certainly the norm in America. International Journal of Comparative Sociology
Review
Shklar has produced a compelling argument that the right to vote and the right to a job, neither of which was written into the constitution, are nevertheless necessary for full and equal American citizenship. Washington Monthly
About the Author
Judith Shklar was, before her death, John Cowles Professor of Government, Harvard University, and a MacArthur Fellow.
Table of Contents
Introduction
One Voting
Two Earning
Notes
Index