New American Creed

David H. Kamens is Professor of Sociology Emeritus at Northern Illinois University.

"In the tradition of Tocqueville, Almond and Verba, and Lipset, David Kamens provides a sweeping analysis of the U.S. polity, paying special attention to its distinctive development from the 1930s and the distinctive predicament it is in today. The book is masterfully crafted and urgently needed at this moment of harrowing political crisis."—David John Frank, Professor of Sociology, University of California, Irvine "Kamens provides an impressive depiction of historic American political culture – individualist and anti-statist – as explaining current public crises and conflicts. From this point of view, the contemporary scene is less exceptional than the period of mobilized consensus from the 1930s through the '80s. This creative book will be of great interest to those thinking about the future of American democracy, especially as globalization disconnects empowered individuals from the responsibilities and constraints of citizenship."—John W. Meyer, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Stanford University "A New American Creed: The Eclipse of Citizenship and Rise of Populism provides a sophisticated analysis of a fundamental issue of our times – the nature of contemporary American democracy. Kamens makes an unparalleled case for understanding prominent features of recent decades, such as the rise of populism and nativism, as emerging in part due to long-term cultural and institutional changes at national and global levels. He reminds us that the reconstruction of the individual actor as the primary focus of social, political, and economic action facilitates, on the one hand, the expansion of civil rights to historically marginalized groups, but, on the other hand, simultaneously undercuts the emergence of a strong welfare state and allows for massive inequality. This theoretically innovative and well-argued book is a must-read for anyone interested in the present and future of American democracy."—Patricia Bromley, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Education, Stanford University "A New American Creed is so rich in data and original insights—of which this review can barely scratch the surface—that it should be required reading for every officeholder, candidate, and voter interested in understanding the current political climate, how we got here, and whether the situation is reparable."—Karen Lyon, The Hill Rag "[Kamens'] conclusions are sobering, to say the least. He worries about the rise of individualism and whether it can coexist with a stable and viable political community....Can [US political parties] manage polarization and provide stability to the political system? Kamens offers little hope that they can. Recommended."—E. C. Sands, CHOICE</>

• 1. Introduction2. The United States in Comparative Perspective3. The Embedded State4. The Collectivist Moment5. The Liberal Activist Society6. The Intensification of Individualism and the Displacement of Citizenship7. The Growth of Big Government and the Conservative Counterattack8. The Breakup of the Postwar Order9. The Intensification of Populism and the Declining Legitimacy of Elites10. From Consensus to Culture Wars11. Conclusion