Synopses & Reviews
Gathers together the nation's most important voices on civic life and civic obligation to explore the idea of national service and how it relates to citizenship. Activists and practitioners include Senator John McCain, former Senator Harris Wofford, chairman of America's Promise, Robert Putnam of Harvard University, Stephen Goldsmith of the Corporation for National and Community Service, Alan Khazei of City Year, Paul C. Light of the Brookings Center for Public Service, and Michael Lind of the New America Foundation.
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 279-302) and index.
Synopsis
Public rhetoric in the United States has always laid heavy stress on the obligations of citizenship. Bill Clinton praised the idea of service, and so does George W. Bush. Since September 11, the debate over service and the obligations of citizenship has become even more urgent. United We Serve gathers many diverse voices on civic life and civic obligation to explore the idea of national service as it relates to citizenship. Activists and practitioners discuss the rise of the service movement, its practical successes, and its challenges. Policymakers and political leaders explore the links between service and problem solving. Political scientists and philosophers connect the service debate to larger concerns about democratic participation. The book also includes a lively debate over whether the U.S. should reconsider compulsory national service. The discussion about service is a debate over how Americans think of themselves and their nationand about what the new patriotism means. Contributors include: Daniel Blumenthal, Harry Boyte, John M. Bridgeland, Louis Caldera, Bruce Chapman, former President Bill Clinton, Charles Cobb Jr., Jane Eisner, Jean Bethke Elshtain, William Galston, Stephen Goldsmith, Robert D. Haas, Stephen Hess, Peter D. Hart and Mario A. Brossard, Alan Khazei, John Lehman, Leslie Lenkowsky, Paul C. Light, Michael Lind, Tod Lindberg, Will Marshall and Marc Magee, Senator John McCain, Charles Moskos, Robert Putnam, Representative Charles Rangel, Alice M. Rivlin, Michael Schudson, Mark Shields, Carmen Sirianni, Theda Skocpol, Andrew L. Stern, Jeff Swartz, Steven Waldman, Caspar Weinberger, David Winston, Harris Wofford, and Robert Wuthnow.
Table of Contents
United we serve? : the promise of national service / E.J. Dionne Jr. and Kayla Meltzer Drogosz -- Bowling together / Robert D. Putnam -- Will September 11 revitalize civic democracy? / Theda Skocpol -- Patriotism-lite meets the citizen-soldier / Charles Moskos -- The politics of service / Harris Wofford -- Service and the Bush Administration's civic agenda / John M. Bridgeland, Stephen Goldsmith, and Leslie Lenkowsky -- Patriotism means reaching beyond our self interest / John McCain -- The duties of democracy / William J. Clinton -- Thinking bigger about citizenship / Will Marshall and Marc Magee