The Contours of American Politics

The Contours of American Politics takes a fresh look at the political culture of the United States. In its complexity and diversity, America fascinates. Its politics are brash and exciting, and its political impact upon the wider world is profound. This book examines not simply the mechanics of America's political system but also the ideas and principles that shape its values.

Drawing on a diverse range of interdisciplinary material, the book maps the landscape of contemporary American political culture and identity. It surveys the nation's past as a critical and formative influence upon its present. It argues that religious beliefs, together with patterns of immigration and migration westwards across the continent, create the landscape of America's contemporary political culture. Roper examines the "politics of nostalgia" the roots of American democracy, and the framework of the federal government. Other topics covered include the nature of political power, the influence of the media, the stratification of American society in terms of race, class and gender, and the cultural sensibilities that underpin foreign policy.

The Contours of American Politics is an excellent guide to the nation's political thinking, its attitudes and its political processes at the end of the "American Century" and at the beginning of the new millennium. It will be essential reading for undergraduates studying American Politics, American Culture, and International Relations.

Review

‘Jon Roper's elegant book about aspects of American political culture should prove accessible to students encountering American politics for the first time at university whilst also challenging more advanced students. Well-grounded in an understanding of American film and literature, this intelligent text provides an enjoyable and thoughtful account of the social contexts of American government and politics' Nigel Bowles, St Anne's College, Oxford ‘Jon Roper's treatment of American politics stands as refreshingly different from the standard textbook on this subject. Roper has creatively integrated the essentials of the US political system with the persistent influence of the American historical experience and the often-overlooked impact of American cultural tensions. From his clever Huckleberry Finn metaphors to his invocation of images from classic American films, Roper has produced a readable and thoughtful text, one which reflects an awareness of the reader as well as a solid scholarly foundation. He is at his finest when reminding readers that current debates in domestic and foreign policy take place not in a vacuum, but in a vibrant historical and cultural context' Harold Molineu, Department of Political Science, Ohio University "Roper has produced a lively and entertaining book which not only covers all the essential factual detail needed for a student text but also provides fresh insight for the specialist as well". Michael Boyle. International Relations Theory. "There is much to admire in Roper's interpretation.

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Roper writes well; the book never fails to sustain reader interest" Richard M. Merelman, Political Science Quarterly

From the Back Cover

The Contours of American Politics takes a fresh look at the political culture of the United States. In its complexity and diversity, America fascinates. Its politics are brash and exciting, and its political impact upon the wider world is profound. This book examines not simply the mechanics of America's political system but also the ideas and principles that shape its values. Drawing on a diverse range of interdisciplinary material, the book maps the landscape of contemporary American political culture and identity. It surveys the nation's past as a critical and formative influence upon its present. It argues that religious beliefs, together with patterns of immigration and migration westwards across the continent, create the landscape of America's contemporary political cultu