Transforming America: Barack Obama in the White House

by Steven E. Schier Carleton College, John J. Coleman (Contribution by), James L. Guth (Contribution by), John F. Harris (Contribution by), James Hohmann (Contribution by)

Overview

The presidency of Barack Obama seeks a major transformation of American politics and policy. This new collection, edited by Steven E. Schier, examines the unusual combination of risk and ambition in Obama's presidency concerning popular politics, Washington politics, and economic and foreign policy. It also places the Obama presidency in historical perspective, noting the unusual circumstances of his election and the similarities and differences between presidential politics today and those of previous eras. Transforming America: Barack Obama in the White House provides a guiding focus involving the successes and failures of the administration's transformative aspirations during Obama's initial years in the White House.

Contributions by John J. Coleman, James L. Guth, John F. Harris, James Hohmann, Bertram Johnson, Richard E. Matland, Nancy Maveety, James M. McCormick, John J. Pitney Jr, Nicol C. Rae, Steven E. Schier, Raymond Tatalovich, Andrea L. Walker, and John K. White.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442201781
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	08/29/2011
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Steven E. Schier is Dorothy H. and Edward C. Congdon Professor of Political Science at Carleton College. He is the author or editor of eleven books, most recently Panorama of a Presidency: How George W. Bush Acquired and Spent His Political Capital and numerous scholarly and media articles.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction: Obama's "Big Bang" Presidency
Chapter 2 Historical and Electoral Perspectives
Chapter 3 From Reconstruction to Recession: The First Phase of the Obama Presidency in Historical Context
Chapter 4 Caught Between Hope and History: Obama, Public Opinion, and the 2010 Elections
Chapter 5 Parties as a Resource for Presidential Leadership: The Case of Barack Obama
Chapter 6 Obama, Religious Politics, and the Culture Wars
Chapter 7 Washington Governance
Chapter 8 Accomplishments and Miscalculations of the Obama Presidency
Chapter 9 Asymmetric Warfare: Supporters and Opponents of President Obama
Chapter 10 Small Ball in the Long Game: Barack Obama and Congress
Chapter 11 A Transformative Politics of Judicial Selection? President Obama and the Federal Judiciary
Chapter 12 Policy Legacies
Chapter 13 Obama and Social Policy: Acclamation or Alienation among Women, Minorities, and Gays?
Chapter 14 The Obama Administration and the Great Recession
Chapter 15 The Obama Presidency: A Foreign Policy of Change?
Chapter 16 Conclusion: How Transformative a Presidency?

Editorial Reviews

This is a marvelous collection of first-rate essays by some of the top scholars in their fields. It clears away a great deal of the underbrush and helps us understand the core strengths and weaknesses of President Obama's efforts to be a transformative president amid enormous challenges.

Michael A. Genovese

Steven Schier writes provocatively about Barack Obama's 'Big Bang' presidency and notes surprising parallels with his predecessor, George W. Bush, in an administration that was launched with transformative ambitions. The Obama administration's legacy-in the courts, with Congress and the political parties, on economic and social policy and in foreign affairs-are addressed with broad sweep. What's the likely course for the rest of Obama's tenure? Transforming America gives readers clues and analysis to help sort out that big question.

Susan Page