The Conservative Tradition in America [Paperback]

Charles W. Dunn (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 084768167X | ISBN-13: 978-0847681679 | Publication Date: May 28, 2000 | Edition: 2nd

Conservatism, once at the periphery of American politics, now occupies a central and strategic position in the seat of political power. In The Conservative Tradition in America, Charles W. Dunn and J. David Woodard present the first full-scale survey written since the 1950s of American conservatism. The authors trace the philosophical and political roots of conservatism from its origins to the present and they explain the causes of its recent resurgence. This comprehensive account identifies different strands of conservative thought, while it analyzes the current state and future prospects of conservatism. This is essential reading for students and scholars seeking information about the historical roots of today's most important political movement.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This excellent work combines brevity with historical depth and provides . . . branches of conservative thought in the U.S. Simply the best short survey of the topic available, this book could serve perfectly the purpose of introducing conservative thought to undergraduates or other curious persons. Highly recommended for classrooms and all libraries. (Choice )

Dunn and Woodard's . . . study of the past, present, and future of conservatism is a wonderful guidebook for scholars and those of us in the public arena. (Newt Gingrich )

Dunn and Woodard provide a highly useful survey of American conservative thought. An ideal introduction for college students to contemporary intellectual and political currents. (William F. Connelly )

This I consider to be the best book on the subject along with that of G. K. Nash, which covers much less. It is a careful and considerate survey of American conservative thought which maintains due scholarly detachment. (Harvey Mansfield )

Invaluable as a way of understanding what has helped to motivate the conservative electoral triumph of November 1994. Thoughtful observers of American political life should be deeply grateful to Professors Dunn and Woodard for this serious and readable book. (Katz, Stanley N. )

. . . will mostly be used by universities as a reference volume . . . (Daily Newssun )

This work provides a splendid overview of American conservatism.

Their book is a good source for those wanting an introduction to American conservative ideas and their historical contexts. (The University Bookman )

About the Author

Charles W. Dunn is the former chairman of the Department of Political Science at Clemson University. Among his seven previous books are The Future of the American Presidency and American Democracy Debated.

J. David Woodard is Professor of Political science at Clemson University and the co-author of The Burden of Busing.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers; 2nd edition (May 28, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 084768167X
• ISBN-13: 978-0847681679
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,656,525 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Concise Summary of Conservatism in America, November 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Conservative Tradition in America (Paperback)

This book presents a good summary of the conservative tradition in America. It also contains several pages of bibliographical information roughly categorized by the evolutionary eras of conservative thought. While it approximately covers the time period discussed in Russell Kirk's "The Conservative Mind" and George Nash's "The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America Since 1945," it obviously does not contain the detail found in those books. Nevertheless, it does provide the reader with an overview of American conservatism and concludes by listing numerous sources for further investigation.