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Radical Middle: The Politics We Need Now
Many books that purport to describe a new political philosophy seem only to provide small variations on liberalism, conservatism, socialism, or libertarianism. Mark Satin's Radical Middle is different. It argues that, in order to get beyond our present stalemate, we need to have the imagination (and moral courage) to listen to and learn from everyone . It shows how we might do that in 12 policy areas, from jobs to schooling to globalization. And it throws a spotlight on people and groups that have burst the bounds of dogmatic thinking to work for "win-win" solutions today.
Many seeds for Radical Middle 's overall perspective were planted by Satin's award-winning Washington, D.C.-based international political newsletter, New Options (1984-1992), which was often referred to as "post-liberal" or "post-socialist" in orientation. Many of Radical Middle 's specific policy ideas were floated in Satin's later Washington-based political newsletter (also called Radical Middle ) - and were refined though dialogue with readers from every walk of life. The result of this 20-year journey is a book that brings special strengths to the attempt to create an inclusive political perspective as an alternative to ideological
Although Washington, D.C. seems awash in partisan bickering, most Americans are pragmatic, imaginative, and incredibly resourceful - and often, in their communities and organizastions, are working out the lineaments of an innovative, genuinely American, post-ideological political philosophy. Benjamin Franklin saw it coming. Afer reading Radical Middle , so will you.
Radical Middle received the "Best Book Award" fot 2004 from the Section on Ecological and Transformational Politics (Section #26) of the American Political Science Asociation .
Many seeds for Radical Middle 's overall perspective were planted by Satin's award-winning Washington, D.C.-based international political newsletter, New Options (1984-1992), which was often referred to as "post-liberal" or "post-socialist" in orientation. Many of Radical Middle 's specific policy ideas were floated in Satin's later Washington-based political newsletter (also called Radical Middle ) - and were refined though dialogue with readers from every walk of life. The result of this 20-year journey is a book that brings special strengths to the attempt to create an inclusive political perspective as an alternative to ideological
Although Washington, D.C. seems awash in partisan bickering, most Americans are pragmatic, imaginative, and incredibly resourceful - and often, in their communities and organizastions, are working out the lineaments of an innovative, genuinely American, post-ideological political philosophy. Benjamin Franklin saw it coming. Afer reading Radical Middle , so will you.
Radical Middle received the "Best Book Award" fot 2004 from the Section on Ecological and Transformational Politics (Section #26) of the American Political Science Asociation .
- GenresPolitics
220 pages, Hardcover
First published March 2, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 29, 2020
Fascinating book about an alternative to the radical left and radical right. A little dated (2004) but still relevant to our current political polarization.
June 27, 2013
This book continues to be a practical guide to the attitudes of caring and commitment we need to cultivate if we are to weather the storms of a polarized public arena and reach public policies that maximize choices citizens have to a decent education, employment, and health. Many of the proposals seem just as pertinent now, and the problems just as urgent, even more complex than ten years ago. Satin's distillation of the best ideas that might bear on remedies for such issues as inequitable health care, disengaged youth, and income disparities serve as a measurement of what we have developed heretofore, given public servants continue to be partisan, at times fractious.
The idea I appreciate most is the advocacy for mandatory national service, a choice for military, community, or homeland security service. It is one that seems to be gaining some traction in this country, although it manifests in different forms than Satin’s proposal; for example, disaster relief and other civilian based activities are proving to effect a healing force on veterans returning from combat with varying degrees of posttraumatic stress syndrome.
Whether the solutions to our problems are any better today than ten years ago or not, radical centrism thinking is indeed growing; this book is one of those pushes in that direction.
The idea I appreciate most is the advocacy for mandatory national service, a choice for military, community, or homeland security service. It is one that seems to be gaining some traction in this country, although it manifests in different forms than Satin’s proposal; for example, disaster relief and other civilian based activities are proving to effect a healing force on veterans returning from combat with varying degrees of posttraumatic stress syndrome.
Whether the solutions to our problems are any better today than ten years ago or not, radical centrism thinking is indeed growing; this book is one of those pushes in that direction.
June 8, 2016
An interesting book by Mark Satin. I'd started this a couple of times before but never got around to finishing it. Guess this election cycle got me interested in it again. Mark's journey from a student dissident radical to a law school grad to a former newsletter publisher shows many different sides that sometimes don't seem to flow together too well. However, American politics has reached the stage where it is necessary for a "radical middle" that takes the best of both the right & left on an issue and melds them into something uniquely American to solve current problems. Some ideas are too simplistic but they are a least a starting point for discussions.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews