Customer Reviews

Mobilizing Resentment: Conservative Resurgence from the John Birch Society to the Promise Keepers

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is a tour de force for Jean Hardisty. While it will not appeal to the general market ( the extreme right-wing will find it anathema), it does present a well-documented description of the "Christian" right and the libertarian movement (which should not be confused). The big-money ties of the "right" are revealed with full documentation. Those not in denial will find this a refreshing read.

In an election year (and, I expect, in its aftermath), Mobilizing Resentment provides invaluable information about the right-wing forces that inform today's electoral and policy debates--as they have since the start of the Reagan administration. In an atmosphere in which people often demonize those with significantly different politics, I find it refreshing to read an analysis that strives to understand WHY both leaders and followers place themselves in the right's camp. Because the mainstream media so often refers to the right as monolithic, it is particularly valuable to read an author who distinguishes among the ideas and strategies of the right's various parts, including the Christian Right, neo-conservatives, "equality feminists," and libertarians (who are, in less nuanced discussions, not perceived as part of the right).

The author's opening description of attending a Promise Keepers rally is powerful in itself, while setting the stage for a book in which she clearly and frequently locates herself in relation to her subject. In describing the right's successful grassroots organizing, she offers a thorough and tremendously informative exploration of mass fundraising, recruitment, think tanks, publications, and interconnected organizations, as well as committed and generous funders who bankroll these essential building blocks of a social movement.

Although the author mentions in passing such right-wing targets as immigrants, public education, reproductive rights, welfare recipients, and religious pluralism, she focuses on the right's attacks on gay rights and affirmative action and on the anti-feminist women's movement. She details the extensive New Right anti-gay campaign committed to convincing people, for example, that basic civil rights for lesbians and gays related to housing and jobs are somehow "special rights" to be fought vigorously. She shows how all sectors of the right view racism (despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary) as a "thing of the past"--an argument that justifies opposition to affirmative action.

I find particularly fascinating the author's description of the three main strains of the anti-feminist women's movement: the Eagle Forum of Phyllis Schlafly, who was so instrumental in defeating the ERA; the less well-known, but currently far more influential, Concerned Women of America, an arm of the Christian Right; and the Independent Women's Forum, Women's Freedom Network, and assorted "equality feminists" who have been remarkably succesful in bringing their own anti-feminist message to the airwaves and OpEd pages. The book's last chapter looks to the future by focusing on activism and analysis to counter the right and to advance social and economic justice.

The author's personal voice and concrete and non-academic style make this book especially accessible to all readers, including those who might be just starting to learn about the right. Its clear, substantive analysis has much to teach everyone who shares the author's commitment to challenging the right's agenda.

An amazing book indeed. Jean Hardisty thoroughly researches and critiques the many sectors of the political right. This is a book worth reading whether you know nothing at all about the right-wing or you make a point to know. It is especially important in view of present day politics. She not only takes the right seriously in their ability to organize and mobilize but she reveals what their true message is. As a fellow progressive I appreciate her not glossing over the Progressive Movements own weaknesses. Once we truly understand the political right as well as bravely admit to our own faults we will grow into a greater movement.

This important book explains clearly and well, and how and why the radical right is such a threat to the civil rights of women, gays and lesbians, and people of color. Hardisty is a political scientist whose work helps to flesh out the scholarly literature on the religious right by the likes of sociologists Sara Diamond and Dallas Blanchard, and journalists Frederick Clarkson and Robert Boston...

The author uses calm and cautious language to take the reader on a tour of various segments of the political right. While clearly a critic of the political and social movements she studies, Hardisty makes a persuasive case that right-wing leaders often organize angry and anxious people by telling them to blame their problems on scapegoats. In part, they do this by using populist-sounding rhetoric to claim they represent the people against liberal elites, masking the fact that they are conservative elites. Nice trick.

Her look at anti-feminist women helps explain how these intelligent and motivated women could be persuaded to organize against policies that help women become more independent and gain more equality. Hardisty lances the pretentious myth of libertarianism, exposing it as a selfish form of romantic utopianism. She also looks at the new ways that racial prejudice and stereotyping hide behind coded language and policies that proclaim they are blind to racial difference.

This is a book for everyone who wants to help build a more democratic society, while refraining from demonizing their opponents and attempting to engage in civil debates.

From the point of view of those described in this book, the world outside what they can control is a very scary place. I grew up inside the far right during the 1950s and 1960s, and count myself fortunate to have finally escaped that dungeon of gnawing suspicion. It wasn't easy for me. This book may help, for some.

Too much of contemporary analysis is done so in a simple, easy to digest way. While the writing is strong and the logic is easy to follow, this book takes us beyond the obvious and asks us to consider the history and background of a movement that is currently shaping many of our political and social choices. This is an important book and a great resource for those who are interested in understanding the forces that counter progressive movement to social justice.

I agree that we need more honest political debate, but this book is not the place to start. For example, on her chapter on libertarianism, she says that the "dirty secret" of libertarians is that they are anti-semitic! That is absolutely false. She took a quote by Rothbard, completely out of context, to try to prove her point. Instead of trying to intelligently address the arguments libertarians and conservatives bring up, she merely tries to label them as racist, elitist, etc, etc.

She also says that when libertarians are faced with "common sense problems with the market", they "have nothing left but their romance with the free-market." Perhaps I should write a book on how progressives have nothing but "romance with government" when confronted with "common sense problems with government." And maybe I should write a book on the "dirty little secrets" of progressives, like how they have a tendency to label their opponents as racist, elitist, etc. instead of addressing their arguments. Either way, analysis like this is trite.

The only resentment that is mobilized by this book is that of the conservative movement.

Do any of these groups and/or personalities sound like radical right-wingers to you?

* The Promise Keepers is a group that spends most of its time talking about reconciliation between whites and blacks and urging men to spend time with their children.

* Charles Colson works with the ACLU to secure rights for prisoners and advocates letting drug offenders out of prison for treatment rather than incarceration.

* The Southern Baptist Convention has categorized racism as a sin to the its denominational credo and devotes much of its energy to reaching out to impovershed African-Americans, fighting world hunger, assisting slaves and victims of human trafficking, etc.

In my own evangelical church, most of our "political" talk in recent months has centered on topics like religious freedom for Afganistan and other nations; standing in unity with other believers from other countries; letting drug users out of prison, and helping the families of prison inmates.

Do you honestly think that a religious tradition with close ties to the Quakers and the Anabaptists is out to take over the country and rob you of your civil rights? Jean Hardisty does - apparently, she thinks that religious groups insisting that they have the right to call certain sexual activities "sin" for their members is a threat to the entire American way of life. Does this sound like "liberalism" to you? I thought liberalism was supposed to tolerate diverse perspectives - not insist that everyone agree with Hollywood producers OR ELSE.

Another very stupid book. The New Class is a bunch of tired hippies who should just fade into the sunset and leave the thinking to real people.