Richard J. Meagher – författare

Today atheists, it seems, are everywhere. Nonbelievers write best-selling books and proudly defend their views in public; they have even hired a lobbyist. But, as political scientist Richard J. Meagher shows, atheist political activism is not a new phenomenon. From the "Freethought" movement of the late 1800s, to postwar "rationalists" and "humanists," to today's proud atheists, nonbelievers have called for change within a resistant political culture. While atheist organizing typically has been a relatively lonely and sad affair, advances in technology and new political opportunities have helped atheists to finally gain at least some measure of legitimacy in American politics.In Atheists in American Politics, one of the first works to take atheism seriously as a social movement, Meagher highlights key moments within the political history of atheism and freethought, and examines how the changing circumstances that surround the movement help explain political mobilization. In doing so, this book also highlights the ways that social movements in general gain momentum, and how a number of interlocking factors are often necessary to enable a movement to "take off" in American politics.

It feels like politics counts more today than it ever has. At the same time, people are frustrated by "the mess in Washington" or think "I can't make a difference." LOCAL POLITICS MATTERS shows a way out - a chance for everyday people to feed their hunger for political action while having a positive impact. LOCAL POLITICS MATTERS takes the knowledge that scholars have gathered from half a century of studying local politics and translates it into clear steps for citizens to take action. LOCAL POLITICS MATTERS:·Explains local government. There are over 90,000 local governments in America. Do you have a "strong mayor" or "council-mayor" system of government? Who sits on your "board of supervisors"? What the heck is a "selectman"?!·Shows why you should care. Local politics offers access - officials are literally the people in your neighbourhood - and impact: you can make a difference.·Lays out what to do. In local politics, sometimes there are right answers. The book explores six issues where only one path makes sense and then follows up with specific steps to get involved.For readers who want to make a difference, this book lets them know how, by reminding them that LOCAL POLITICS MATTERS.

Explains the ENACT model of student civic engagement, empowers instructors to implement it, and shows them how to assess its impact.  ENACT: The Educational Network for Active Civic Transformation aims to teach college students about democracy through engagement with the state legislative process. Built on the values of knowledge, cooperation, justice, and integrity, ENACT is a national, intercollegiate nonpartisan network. The program empowers students to be active participants in democratic processes by connecting with policymakers and community organizations, conducting research and analysis, and informing public policy with evidence and expertise.  ENACTing Change introduces teachers to the philosophy and practice of the ENACT model—which includes workshops, courses, an online network, as well as pilot projects and other initiatives—while providing detailed guidance on how to incorporate the model into their courses, regardless of discipline or educational settings. The book offers instructors recommendations for developing and teaching courses that engage in state-level policy advocacy with a focus on learning outcomes. ENACTing Change takes instructors through each step of the course design process, from how to build the relationships needed to teach the class to the next steps for students to work in the community after ENACT.