The New Citizenship: Unconventional Politics, Activism, And Service - Softcover

Rimmerman, Craig A

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0813322677 ISBN 13: 9780813322674

Publisher: Westview Press, 1997

Synopsis

We are not born citizens, but must be educated and trained to be citizens. This is the central tenet of The New Citizenship, which builds on the participatory democratic vision of the 1960s. Arguing that civic effort must go beyond merely voting, Craig Rimmerman examines grassroots mobilization, community activism, service learning, and the Internet as potential tools for confronting the breakdown of civility in U.S. politics.At the heart of The New Citizenship are the questions: Why do so many Americans fail to participate in their communities' affairs? What role should the citizenry play in our political system? In addressing these concerns, the text both evaluates the dilemma of participation, civility, and stability at a time when civic indifference is a national problem and outlines its sources, suggesting ways in which Americans can conquer their apathy toward government. Rimmerman also identifies alternative forms of participation (besides voting) seized upon by the citizenry to register discontent with its representative government. Considerable attention is devoted to the attitudes and values of college students as they approach their roles within the larger political system.

About this title

From the Inside Flap

Why do so many Americans fail to participate in their communities affairs? What role should the citizenry play in our political system? In addressing these concerns, this revised and updated text evaluates the dilemma of participation, civility, and stability at a time when civic indifference is a national problem. In addition to outlining the sources of this indifference, "The New Citizenship" suggests ways in which Americans can conquer their apathy toward government.
In this fourth edition, author and Dilemmas in American Politics series editor Craig A. Rimmerman provides new material on ACORN, the 2008 presidential election, the Obama presidency, and the impact of these recent events for college students and their conceptions of participation and citizenship."

About the Author

Craig A. Rimmerman is professor of political science at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. He is the editor of Westview Press's Dilemmas in American Politics series. He is also author of Presidency by Plebiscite: The Reagan-Bush Era in Institutional Perspective , and co-editor with Kenneth A. Wald and Clyde Wilcox of The Politics of Gay Rights .

About this edition

• Publisher: Westview Press
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0813322677
• ISBN 13: 9780813322674
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 170