Raised right : fatherhood in modern American conservatism / Jeffrey R. Dudas.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Dudas, Jeffrey R., author.

Series:

Cultural lives of law.

Cultural Lives of Law

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Buckley, William F., Jr., 1925-2008--Family.

Buckley, William F.

Reagan, Ronald--Family.

Reagan, Ronald.

Thomas, Clarence, 1948---Family.

Thomas, Clarence.

Conservatives--Family relationships--United States.

Conservatives.

Families--Political aspects--United States.

Families.

Civil rights--United States--Philosophy.

Civil rights.

Fathers and sons--United States.

Fathers and sons.

Conservatism--United States.

Conservatism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (225 pages).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Stanford, California : Stanford Law Books, 2017.

Summary:

How has the modern conservative movement thrived in spite of the lack of harmony among its constituent members? What, and who, holds together its large corporate interests, small-government libertarians, social and racial traditionalists, and evangelical Christians? Raised Right pursues these questions through a cultural study of three iconic conservative figures: National Review editor William F. Buckley, Jr., President Ronald Reagan, and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Examining their papers, writings, and rhetoric, Jeffrey R. Dudas identifies what he terms a "paternal rights discourse"—the arguments about fatherhood and rights that permeate their personal lives and political visions. For each, paternal discipline was crucial to producing autonomous citizens worthy and capable of self-governance. This paternalist logic is the cohesive agent for an entire conservative movement, uniting its celebration of "founding fathers," past and present, constitutional and biological. Yet this discourse produces a paradox: When do authoritative fathers transfer their rights to these well-raised citizens? This duality propels conservative politics forward with unruly results. The mythology of these American fathers gives conservatives something, and someone, to believe in—and therein lies its timeless appeal.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Preface

1. Raised Right

2. Something to Believe In: Modern American Conservatism and the Paternal Rights Discourse

3. Penetrating the Inner Sanctum: William F. Buckley Jr., Paternal Desire, and the Rights of Man

4. “The Greatest Nation on Earth”: Ronald Reagan, Fathers, and the Rights of Americans

5. All the Rage: Clarence Thomas, Daddy, and the Tragedy of Rights

6. A Nightmare Walking: The Haunting of Modern American Conservatism

Notes

References

Index

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781503601734

1503601730

OCLC:

1198931257