Is America breaking apart

摘要: Is the United States a nation of materialistic loners whose politics are dictated by ethnic, racial, religious, or sexual identities? This is what America has become in eyes many commentators. Americans seem to fear that their society breaking apart, but how accurate this portrayal and justified fear? Introducing balanced viewpoint into intense debate, John Hall Charles Lindholm demonstrate such alarm unfounded. Here they explore institutional structures American society, emphasizing its ability accommodate difference reduce conflict. The culture, too, comes under scrutiny: influenced Calvinistic beliefs, place faith individual demand high moral commitment community. Broad scope ambition, short book draws realistic portrait among most powerful stable world, yet perennially shaken self-doubt. Concern over cohesiveness argue, actually product shared cultural belief human distinctiveness equality. They find paradoxically leads exaggerated worries about disunity, since afraid disagreements co-equals will rend apart fragile community based solely on consensus caring. While there little dissent essential values, racism still abounds. authors predict homogenizing force economic participation might be key mending wounds racial turmoil. By combining history, sociology, anthropology, cover wide range past recent challenges stability society: from history unions affirmative action, McCarthyism militant distrust government, early prejudice toward Irish Italian immigrants current treatment African Americans. do not skirt internal contradictions tensions nonetheless recognize strength promise institutions culture. Their vivid, sweeping response doomsayers reassessment our society.