1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910155306803321

Autore

Denton Robert E., Jr.

Titolo

Social Fragmentation and the Decline of American Democracy [[electronic resource] ] : The End of the Social Contract / / by Robert E. Denton, Jr., Benjamin Voth

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cham : , : Springer International Publishing : , : Imprint : Palgrave Macmillan, , 2017

ISBN

3-319-43922-7

Edizione

[1st ed. 2017.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (X, 195 p.)

Collana

Sports Economics, Management and Policy

Disciplina

320.01

Soggetti

Political theory

Political communication

Democracy

Political Theory

Political Communication

US Politics

United States Politics and government

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

A Divided and Selfish Nation: A United States of America No More  -- Democracy and the “Social Contract:” Prescription for Freedom and Equality  -- Generational Change and Social Values  -- The Postmodern Culture and Political Implications  -- The Epistemological Poisoning of America  -- De-mock-racy: Comic Framing as Political Wrecking Ball  -- Making Black Lives Matter Today  -- What Can We Do? An American Renaissance Predicated on Communicative Idealism  -- The Practice of Politics Today and the Greater Tomorrow.

Sommario/riassunto

This book explores the social and political implications of what the authors identify as the decline of the social contract in America and the rise of a citizenry that has become self-centered, entitled, and independent. For nearly two decades, America has been in a “cultural war” over moral values and social issues, becoming a divided nation geographically, politically, socially, and morally. We are witnessing the decline of American Democracy, the authors argue, resulting from the



erosion of the idea of the social contract. Especially since the “baby boomers,” each successive generation has emphasized personal license to the exclusion of service, social integration, and the common good. With the social contact, the larger general will becomes the means of establishing reciprocal rights and duties, privileges, and responsibilities as a basis of the state. The balkanization of America has changed the role of government from one of oversight to one of dependency, where individual freedom and responsibility are sacrificed for group equality. This book examines the conditions of this social fragmentation, and offers ideas of an American Renaissance predicated on communicative idealism.