America's second civil war : dispatches from the political center / Stanley A. Renshon.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Renshon, Stanley Allen.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political planning--United States.

Political planning.

United States.

Political leadership--United States.

Political leadership.

Physical Description:

xi, 358 pages : maps ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New Brunswick, N.J. : Transaction, [2002]

Summary:

America has always taken a coherent national identity for granted. In recent decades that assumption has been challenged. Individual and group rights have expanded, eliciting acerbic debate about the legitimacy and limits of claims. National political leaders have preferred to finesse rather engage these controversies. At the same time, large numbers of new immigrants have dramatically made the United States more racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse. As a result, this country faces critical political and cultural questions. What does it mean to be an American? What, if anything, binds our country and citizens together? Is a "new American identity" developing, and if so, what is it? Can political leaders help us answer these questions?

For the second time in the history of the United States civil war looms. Unlike the first Civil War, the antagonists cannot take refuge in their family or their religious, social, cultural, or political organizations. These are precisely the places where the war is being fought. At issue is whether it is possible or desirable to preserve the strengths of a common heritage. Some quarters insist that our past has resulted in a culture only worth tearing down to build over, rather than one worth keeping and building upon. We are in conflict over the viability of American culture and identity itself.

This volume is organized into a series of intellectually grounded but provocative chapters on political leadership, the 2000 presidential campaign, immigration, affirmative action, and other contemporary social and political issues. Renshon uses the perspective of political psychology to help us to see old issues in new ways, and new issues in different ways. His critical questions concern the impact of immigration on American common values, national identity, and politics. America's Second Civil War examines issues likely to be at the forefront of American politics, culture, and social debate in the new millennium. Intelligently written and intended for a wide audience, it will be of interest to political scientists and students of American politics as well as the general public.

Contents:

Part 1 Foundations and Framework

1. America Redefined?: Political Leadership and America's Second Civil War 3

Part 2 American National Identity

2. What is American Identity? 43

3. Why Not a Transnational American National Identity? 63

Part 3 Immigration and the American National Community

4. Dual Citizenship in America: An Issue of Vast Proportions and Broad Significance 91

5. Do Multiple National Loyalties Equal Conflicted National Loyalties? 115

Part 4 American Politics and Political Leadership

6. Character Issues in the 2000 Presidential Campaign 137

7. Assessing Judgment and Leadership in the 2000 Presidential Campaign

An Introduction 163

8. Is George W. Bush Smart Enough to Be a Good President? 173

9. Is Al Gore Too Smart to Have Good Judgment? 205

10. Senator John McCain for President in 2004: Why Not 227

Part 5 Political Leadership and the Dilemmas of Diversity

11. The Psychology of Courage and the Politics of Truth: Governing a Divided Society 249

12. The Politics of Avoidance: President Clinton's Initiative on Race 279

Part 6 Presidential Leadership in the New Millennium

13. George W. Bush's Mandate: Governing on the Razor's Edge 311

14. Governing a Divided America in the Aftermath of September 11: Heroic versus Reflective Leadership 327.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

ISBN:

076580087X

OCLC:

47074878