166-482 Right Turn: Contemporary Conservative Politics in the United States

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Content:

This subject examines the so-called New Right as the dominant factor in U.S. politics today. From the mid 1960s when Modern American Conservatism was considered finished to the 1996 presidential election, the New Right has grown as a steady force within American politics, and especially the Republican party. But how did a movement which was written off completely come to dominate American politics? What are the ideas of this movement and to whom do they appeal? What is the significance of the alignment of fundamentalist Christianity with the Republican party? What is the significance of the preponderance of members of the National Rifle Association and fundamentalist Christians? The implications of this for the Republican party, the Democratic party and the future of American democracy are profound.

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Prescribed Texts:

• Friedrich von Hayek, The Road to Serfdom
• David Frum, Dead Right
• Jerome Himmelstein, To the Right and Others
• William Berman, America's Right Turn
• E.J. Dionne, They Only Look Dead