The New York Times bestseller that reminded us what it means to be an American is more timely than ever in this updated and enlarged edition, including "Schlesinger's Syllabus," an annotated reading list of core books on the American experience. The classic image of the American nation — a melting pot in which differences of race, wealth, religion, and nationality are submerged in democracy — is being replaced by an orthodoxy that celebrates difference and abandons assimilation. While this upsurge in ethnic awareness has had many healthy consequences in a nation shamed by a history of prejudice, the cult of ethnicity, if pressed too far, threatens to fragment American society to a dangerous degree. Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner in history and adviser to the Kennedy and other administrations, Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., is uniquely positioned to wave the caution flag in the race to a politics of identity. Using a broader canvas in this updated and expanded edition, he examines the international dimension and the lessons of one polyglot country after another tearing itself apart or on the brink of doing so: among them the former Yugoslavia, Nigeria, even Canada. Closer to home, he finds troubling new evidence that multiculturalism gone awry here in the United States threatens to do the same. "One of the most devastating and articulate attacks on multiculturalism yet to appear."—Wall Street Journal "A brilliant book . . . we owe Arthur Schlesinger a great debt of gratitude."—C. Vann Woodward, New Republic

Examines the lessons of one polyglot country after another tearing itself apart or on the brink of doing so, and points out troubling new evidence that multiculturalism gone awry here in the United States threatens to do the same.

The 1996 discovery, near Kennewick, Washington, of a 9,000-year-old Caucasoid skeleton brought more to the surface than bones. The explosive controversy and resulting lawsuit also raised a far more fundamental question: Who owns history? Many Indians see archeologists as desecrators of tribal rites and traditions; archeologists see their livelihoods and science threatened by the 1990 Federal reparation law, which gives tribes control over remains in their traditional territories. In this new work, Thomas charts the riveting story of this lawsuit, the archeologists' deteriorating relations with American Indians, and the rise of scientific archeology. His telling of the tale gains extra credence from his own reputation as a leader in building cooperation between the two sides.

Toward a New Socialism offers a critical analysis of capitalism's failings and the imminent need for socialism as an alternative form of government. This book demonstrates that capitalism is destructive and limiting to the many ongoing campaigns to increase freedom, equality, and security. Dr. Richard Schmitt joins with Dr. Anatole Anton to compile a volume of essays exploring the benefits and consequences of a socialist system as an avenue of increased human solidarity and ethical principle. The essays offer a new definition of socialism by investigating the theories and principles of socialism, its influence on social institutions, and its role in work dynamics. Raising important and unavoidable questions for contemporary society, Toward a New Socialism is a vital resource for scholars of political theory and the globalization movement, as well as a necessary read for every citizen under capitalism.

This exciting new cultural history documents how Mexican Americans in twentieth-century film, television, and theater surpassed stereotypes, fought for equal opportunity, and subtly transformed the mainstream American imaginary. Through biographical sketches of underappreciated Mexican American actors, this work sheds new light on our national character and reveals the untold story of a multicentered, polycultural America.

Explores the evolution of gourmet restaurant style in recent decades, which has led to an increasing informality in restaurant design, and examines what these changes say about current attitudes toward taste.

Contents Brenda M. Baker: Will Kymlicka on Minority Cultures and their Entitlements - Patricia Smith: Legal Reason, Human Rights and Plural Values - B. de Castro Cid: Some paradoxes about collective human rights - Winfried Brugger: The Common Good and Pluralism in the Modern Constitutional State - Carla M. Zoethout: Does the multicultural Society Require New Human Rights? An Appeal to the Ideal of Constitutional Democracy - Valentin Petev: Legal Ought and Moral Ought in a Pluralistic Society - John Mikhail: Islamic Rationalism and the Foundation of Human Rights - Kamal Hossain: Pluralism and the Law, Evolving legal frameworks for change in Muslim societies: some reflections - Kate McMillan: Non-indigenous minority rights in the neo-liberal state: the New Zealand experience - Agnes T. M. Schreiner: Observing the differences - Christoph Eberhard / Nidhi Gupta: Towards a Pluralist and Intercultural Approach to Law: Tackling the Challenge of Women's Rights in India - Cees Maris / Sawitri Saharso: Honour Killing: A Case for Cultural Defence? - Albie Sachs: Towards the Revitalisation of Customary Law in an Egalitarian Constitutional Democracy - Christa Rautenbach: Legal Pluralism versus Gender Equality: The South African Scenario - Marek Smolak: Lustration and Reconciliation. Polish and South African experience - Luiz Fernando Coelho: The Future of Law and the Remembrance of the Future - Stephen C. Hicks: Spirit and Law: the legal person in a post-modern, global, hi-tech world - Barry J. Rodger: Globalisation and the Depoliticisation of Competition Law - David Castle: Legal Ontology and the Conservation of Biodiversity - Keith Culver: Returning to Normal: Can Corrective Justice Be Achieved When Genetically Modified Salmon Escape and Do Damage? - Willemien du Plessis / Johan Nel: Environmental Framework Law: a strategy towards integrating pluralistic legislation - Kimmo Nuotio: Making Sense of the aeInternational' and the aeRegional' in Criminal Law and Criminal Policy.

Written for social theorists and general readers (including undergraduates), David Sciulli's book is the first to explain not only how but also why Amitai Etzioni’s publications evolved from his dissertation to Active Society and Socio-Economics to Communitarianism.

Contrasting strong women and multiculturalism with portrayals of a heroic white male leading the nation into battle, The Prime-Time Presidency explores the NBC drama The West Wing, paying particular attention to its role in promoting cultural meaning about the presidency and U.S. nationalism. Based in a careful, detailed analysis of the "first term" of The West Wing's President Josiah Bartlet, this criticism highlights the ways the text negotiates powerful tensions and complex ambiguities at the base of U.S. national identity--particularly the role of gender, race, and militarism in the construction of U.S. nationalism. Unlike scattered and disparate collections of essays, Trevor Parry-Giles and Shawn J. Parry-Giles offer a sustained, ideologically driven criticism of The West Wing. The Prime-time Presidency presents a detailed critique of the program rooted in presidential history, an appreciation of television's power as a source of political meaning, and television's contribution to the articulation of U.S. national identity.

The United States is undergoing serious splintering that threatens, not only relationships, but also politics and society as a whole. Divisions are emphasized. Disagreements turn into name-calling and castigating. Issues are sharply painted in right or wrong, ethical and unethical, intelligent or unenlightened colors. The country’s motto is E Pluribus Unum, out of many, one. Philosophy and principle, not force or fear, unite the country through ideals that celebrate the sovereignty and authority of all citizens. Education has an essential role. An educated citizenry is essential to understand issues and engage in a rational and civil conversation about how to address them. Education must explore civil dialogue to bring people together and engage constructively about democratic principles and values. This book explores principles and expectations for a democratic society, and how differences can be approached civilly to explore and define solutions. Citizens must engage in respectful conversations to build greater understanding. Differences are inevitable in democratic republic by its very nature. Civility is essential for citizens to engage in self-government.