God, Guns, Gold And Glory

Lauren Langman ( PhD University of Chicago, 1969) is Professor of Sociology at Loyola University of Chicago. He has published widely in critical theory and social movements, e.g. Alienation and the Carnivalization of Society (Routledge, 2012) which he co-edited with Jerome Braun and recent volumes on hegemony and Arab Spring/Occupy.George Lundskow (Ph.D. University of Kansas, 1999) is Professor of Sociology at Grand Valley State University. He publishes on God, Money, and Power from a class-cultural and psychoanalytic perspective and embraces work across disciplines that bring passion and insight to vital issues.

• AcknowledgementsPreface: What’s the matter with the United States?The Fault Lies WithinEnter the Frankfurt SchoolChanging American Social Character: The Prelude to Socialism Chapter Outline1. IntroductionErich Fromm and Social CharacterThe Social Character of Elites: Dominators and DestroyersCharacter and ContradictionsThe Origins and Rise of the Modern Social CharacterThe Mayflower Arrived and its Legacy EnduredThe Waning of Puritanical SexualityCommerce and the ColoniesThe Polarities of Social CharacterAmerican MythologySocial Character TodayToward A New Character TypologyThe Authoritarian-Destructive OrientationThe Dynamics of Fear and PowerThe Social DominatorSummary2. God and His Chosen People: Act IINew England AppalachiaThe Deep SouthReligion, Contradictions and CharacterReligion and CultureThe Midwest Religion and Culture TodayThe Religious Right and LeftReligion and Social CharacterSummary 3. America: Chasing the Pot of Gold Character and Political-EconomyBack to the PastThey’re Back!The Pitchforks are Coming!The Rise of Predatory BankstersToo Big to Fail, To Powerful to JailSpoiled by SuccessDetroit Falls to the Bankster HordesHostile Takeovers-The Social Dominators at WorkThe Social DominatorSummary 4. Guns: Violence, Gender and American Character God, Guns and the ColonizerFrom the Seaboard Colonies to the Western FrontierIn Real America, Real Men Shoot, Kill, and DestroyChris Kyle—Mass Killer and American HeroBig Balls and the Phallus in American SportWork and SportInstrumental Aggression and CharacterPom-Poms and Male PowerPhallic WorshipGod Bless American ViolenceSummary 5. Glory: The Rise and Fall of American ExceptionalismFrom Chosen to Exceptional Puritan Co-existence?De Tocqueville: On Americans as ExceptionalThe Land of the Free-For White MalesManifest Destiny—Exceptionalism as Political DoctrineIf They are not Willing…Exceptional…How Exactly?The Sorrows of American ExceptionalismThe Unwinding of ExceptionalismAmerican Exceptionalism is Really AuthoritarianismCultural NarcissismSummary 6. The Sorrows of American CharacterThe Rise, Fall and Regeneration of American CharacterGenesis: The Rise of the AmericansThe FallThe Crises of EmpireComing Soon: Election 2016 POTUS as American CharacterIt’s the Economy Stupid!It’s Not Just the Economy Stupid!Variations on a ThemeHoly Moly: Is This a Culture War Batman!History, Social Change and Social CharacterDynamic Character Change Sturm, Drang and the Bearers of ChangeThe Social Psychology of Social MovementsNeeded: A War of PositionSocial Movement o0rganizationsSummary 7. 49 Shades of Social Character and One More on the WayCan Reforms Reform?The Return of the RepressedProgressive Regression in the Service of HumanityBack to the CommuneThe Commune as Moral RegenerationToward a Sane Society: Step 1-Transforming the Political EconomyToward a Sane Society: Step 2-Democratizing DemocracyToward a Sane Society: Step 3-After God What Comes NextOn Being and HavingWhat is to be Done?To the BarricadesSummary8. EpilogueResurrecting The Frankfurt SchoolThe Resurrection of Critical Theory Toward a Better FutureBibliographyIndex