Crisis of Conservatism? assesses the status of American conservatism--its politics, its allies in the Republican Party, and the struggle for the soul of the conservative movement that became especially acute with the controversial policies of the Bush administration and Republican losses in the 2006 and 2008 elections. What do different types of conservatives believe? How much do they have in common? How strong is the conservative movement in the United States, and what impact does it have on the Republican Party? Can conservatives and Republicans find in opposition a unity which had shattered as a result of being in power? To what degree do conservative ideas represent the mainstream of political beliefs in the United States? In short, is there the crisis of conservatism that some thought apparent as a result of the administration of George W. Bush? The book's contributors, a broad array of leading scholars of conservatism, identify a range of tensions in the conservative movement and the Republican Party, tensions over what conservatism is and should be, over what conservatives should do when in power, and over how conservatives should govern. Views differ a great deal, both between the public and conservative elite groups and among conservative elites themselves. This is balanced by the tendency of many in the general public to identify themselves as conservatives and by the vibrant intellectual life and vitality of conservative elites. In brief, Crisis of Conservatism? analyzes a conservative movement that seemed to be in crisis in the wake of the 2008 election and that remains beset by many problems and divisions but has fundamental strengths, both in the underlying proclivity of much of the American public to see itself as conservative and in the passion of conservative activists.

About the Author
Joel D. Aberbach is Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Public Policy in the School of Public Affairs at University of California, Los Angeles Gillian Peele is Fellow and Tutor in Politics and University Lecturer at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University.

Reviews
Crisis of Conservatism? is a remarkable compilation of empirical analysis and philosophical, historical, and practical perspectives on American conservatism. I know of no other volume that provides as rich and varied a perspective as this one does. For those who want to know about the American Right, this outstanding collection is virtually one-stop shopping. * Bert A. Rockman, Professor of Political Science, Purdue University *
Crisis of Conservatism? is a book of our age, capturing the empowering and crippling symbiosis of Republican electoral maneuvering and conservative policy advocacy. An impressive collection of advocates and scholars trace the cycles of Republican success in mobilizing conservative voters and the conservative disillusionment that often follows. Liberals and independent analysts will find much to learn about the sources of conservatism's staying power - its substantial investments in generating new policies, crafting strategically attuned messages, and infusing them in federated organizations throughout the country. * Lawrence R. Jacobs, Chair for Political Studies, University of Minnesota, and co-author of The Unsustainable American State *



Book Information
ISBN 9780199764020
Author Joel D. Aberbach
Format Paperback
Page Count 416
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 544g
Dimensions(mm) 155mm * 231mm * 31mm