In this Book
- The Political Centrist
- Book
- 2009
- Published by: Vanderbilt University Press
Centrists reject each of these fragmented and polarized approaches to politics. We believe that government has a role to play in structuring social and economic opportunities and in reinforcing basic moral norms, yet we are deeply troubled by ever-expanding government. We reject libertarianism, left-liberalism, and the various schools of conservatism as a model for government.
Part I of The Political Centrist briefly traces the trajectory of the liberal and conservative traditions. It argues that modern liberalism is an unprincipled fusion of classical liberal and socialist ideals while modern conservatism is an untenable hybrid of economic liberalism and social conservatism. Part II offers a centrist approach to many of the most contentious contemporary political and social issues. Those include:
-- abortion
-- affirmative action
-- the death penalty
-- gay marriage
-- illegal immigration
-- judicial activism
-- the relationship of religion and politics
-- the role of government in the economy
Table of Contents
- Title Page, Copyright Page
- pp. iii-iv
- Acknowledgments
- p. xi
- Part I: Beyond Liberalism and Conservatism
- Chapter 1: The Liberal’s Paradox
- pp. 11-28
- Chapter 4: Why the Big “Isms” Fail
- pp. 64-78
- Part II: Toward a Centrist View of U.S. Politics
- Chapter 9: A Centrist Approach to Abortion
- pp. 146-160
- Chapter 11: Crime and Punishment
- pp. 176-195
Additional Information
Copyright
2009