The Progressive Movement - Softcover

DeWitt, Benjamin Parke

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1412849624 ISBN 13: 9781412849623

Publisher: Routledge, 2012

Synopsis

Benjamin Parke DeWitt’s study of the Progressive Era represents a comprehensive history of the theory and practice of politics from a progressive perspective. His account of the history and projections about the future of the progressive science of politics provided the American liberal-progressive tradition with its first full narrative history at a time when it was not yet the dominant interpretation of the American political order. Its greatest importance, however, lies in DeWitt’s conception of where the broad-based progressive critique of the Founders’ was heading.

DeWitt’s history of the origins and projected destiny of the progressive tradition commands a respect that places him in the same company as better-known writers. His historical narrative of the liberal progressive tradition was implicit among a number of writers before the Progressive Movement, but no contemporary writer provided a better roadmap of where progressivism was going than DeWitt. What gives DeWitt’s critique a twist is his focus on the individualism of the founders, which he regards as the heart of their anti-democratic principles. His critique of this individualism is the foundation for his argument that collectivism is arguably a more democratic alternative.

Benjamin Parke DeWitt is one of the lesser-known, often overlooked writers who worked to establish the liberal library of American political thought. This book deserves to be read as one of the neglected gems of the Progressive Era that it chronicles. This is an important addition to the Library of Liberal Thought series.

About this title

About the Author:

Benjamin Parke DeWitt (1889-1965) was professor of English and government at New York University. He became active in the Progressive Party and ran for office, but lost. This work, when originally published, won him national recognition.

Review:

“[T]his volume by DeWitt. . . is an account of the US liberal-progressive movement that aimed to present a narrative account the past, present, and future of the theory and practice of politics from the progressive perspective as the progressive movement began its rise into national prominence. The narrative lays out the progressive critique of the political philosophy of the founders, presents the progressive vision of a more European form of collectivism, and describes specific progressive reforms in state and city government across the United States. In the new introduction, Pearson. . . argues that, while neglected, DeWitt's work ‘remains the paradigmatic example of how the progressive tradition has been understood by progressives.’”

—Book News

“[Benjamin Parke DeWitt] maintains that the progressive movement represents a definite and unmistakable change of attitude on the part of the American people as a whole... The general conclusion drawn is that progressivism may best be described as a growing confidence on the part of the American people in their ability to govern themselves.”

—Journal of Political Economy

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1412849624
• ISBN 13: 9781412849623
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 426