American Social and Political Thought: A Concise Introduction

by Andreas Hess

Overview

This concise, comprehensive primer on modern American social and political thought is the ideal introduction to the rich intellectual tradition of the United Sates. Andreas Hess helps the reader to understand of American culture and politics through careful exploration of key and theorists.

In the first half of the book he focuses on the core traditions of American social and political thought American exceptionalism, Calvinist Protestantism, republicanism, liberalism and 20th century pragmatism. The second half of the book applies these traditions to a broad range of 20th century conditions and issues power and democracy, justice and injustice, multiculturalism and pluralism, civil society, social theory and the role of the intellectual. The works of some of the most influential figures in the field, such as De Tocqueville, Lipset, Arendt, Hartz, Pocock, Dewey, Moore, Rawls, Walzer, Rorty and Alexander, are drawn upon to illustrate the theories and issues being discussed. Accessibly written and jargon free, this treatment will be useful for students and scholars alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780814736562
Publisher:	New York University Press
Publication date:	04/01/2003
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Andreas Hess is a lecturer in Sociology at UniversityCollege Dublin. He is the author of American Social and Political Thought: An Introduction (2000), and Concepts of Social Stratification (2001).

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"This is a good book. Its topic and argument are ambitious but the book is short and clear."

-Thesis Eleven

Editorial Reviews

"This is a good book. Its topic and argument are ambitious but the book is short and clear."

Thesis Eleven

The author is ideally equipped to bring together continental European and Anglo-American traditions of social theory and analysis, both historical and contemporary, and to interpret one to the other … I have no doubt that this book will become a central text in the field.

Professor William Outhwaite

It offers a valuable introduction to key concepts in US history and politics ... useful as a supplemental text for broader course principles and for sessions on the American Revolution.

Karen Jones

"This is a good book. Its topic and argument are ambitious but the book is short and clear."

-Thesis Eleven

From the Publisher