The authors examine one of the most enduring features of American
'exceptionalism' - why, among all the advanced liberal democratic
capitalist states, the United States has never developed a
socialist or social democratic tradition. Partly, they say, this is
the product of an American value system which is profoundly
individualist and anti-statist but partly it is a product of a
highly mobile society in which large numbers of individuals seem to
be able to escape from the bottom of the pile within a generation
or two rather than remaining a part of a hereditary proletariat;
also, the ethnically and religiously diverse American working
class, largely a product of large scale immigration over the past
100 years, has failed to develop a sense of common class unity and
solidarity and a will to collective working class political action.
These factors, say the authors, have had a permanent effect upon
the structure of both state and economy in the USA, where welfare
spending and taxation levels are both much lower than in Europe
though poverty and inequality are higher. However, as the European
left seems to be progressivly ditching its collectivist, welfarist
tradition, America is looking less 'exceptionalist' today then ever
before. (Kirkus UK)
"[T]his impressive work...offers paths toward new and rich understandings of American history."—The New York Times Book Review
Why socialism has failed to play a significant role in the United States—the most developed capitalist industrial society and hence, ostensibly, fertile ground for socialism—has been a critical question of American history and political development. Seymour Martin Lipset and Gary Marks "survey with subtlety and shrewd judgment the various explanations" (Wall Street Journal) for this phenomenon of American political exceptionalism.
"Clearly written, intelligent, filled with new information" (Times Literary Supplement), this "splendidly convincing" (Michael Kazin, Georgetown University) work eschews conventional arguments about socialism's demise to present a fuller understanding of how multiple factors—political structure, American values, immigration, and the split between the Socialist party and mainstream unions—combined to seal socialism's fate.
"In peak form, two master political sociologists offer a must-read synthesis."—Theda Skocpol, Harvard University
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
