Democracy and Solidarity: On the Cultural Roots of America's Political Crisis

by James Davison Hunter

The long-developing cultural divisions beneath our present political crisis
 
Liberal democracy in America has always contained contradictions—most notably, a noble but abstract commitment to freedom, justice, and equality that, tragically, has seldom been realized in practice. While these contradictions have caused dissent and even violence, there was always an underlying and evolving solidarity drawn from the cultural resources of America’s “hybrid Enlightenment.”
 
James Davison Hunter, who introduced the concept of “culture wars” thirty years ago, tells us in this new book that those historic sources of national solidarity have now largely dissolved. While a deepening political polarization is the most obvious sign of this, the true problem is not polarization per se but the absence of cultural resources to work through what divides us. The destructive logic that has filled the void only makes bridging our differences more challenging. In the end, all political regimes require some level of unity. If it cannot be generated organically, it will be imposed by force.
 
Can America’s political crisis be fixed? Can an Enlightenment-era institution—liberal democracy—survive and thrive in a post-Enlightenment world? If, for some, salvaging the older sources of national solidarity is neither possible sociologically, nor desirable politically or ethically, what cultural resources will support liberal democracy in the future?

Genres: Nonfiction

630 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 23, 2024

About the author

James Davison Hunter is the Labrosse-Levinson Distinguished Professor of Religion, Culture, and Social Theory at the University of Virginia and Executive Director of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture.

Reviews

[Mike McNichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hunter's exploration of the history of the American "hybrid-enlightenment" experiment is fascinating and offers a helpful insight into the cultural/social/political polarization that is our present reality in the United States. While the book is heavily academic, it is also thick with references that support his work.

The conclusion offers what he calls "idealist" (rather than utopian) environments for change to take place. He calls for a new ethical vision for the good life in America, a deep exploration of the dynamic of forgiveness, an embrace of the intrinsic value of all human beings, and the emergence of a new kind of ethical/moral leadership.

The ability of our current democratic system to heal itself seems hopeless. But Hunter contends that there is still hope because there are still people—mostly under the current political radar—who can bring new leadership into our context, even if only in small local, civic, academic, and faith communities.

After reading the final section of the book, all I could think was: May it be so.

[Danna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Woof. Someone remind me that I keep forgetting to remind myself that saving my homework for the day before it’s due is Not Ideal.

I thought this book was interesting and also for sure to academic for little old me - so I’m sure a much smarter version of myself would’ve given it four stars instead.

But I’m happy to have underlined a lot of things to reflect on later in whatever paper I have to write about this, but for now I would like to think about the ways in which I am contributing to the polarization of American culture and (hopefully) ease those tendencies to seek the common good. At a sacrifice of myself???? Easier said than done, but obviously not doing so doesn’t make people very happy

Anyway. I’m pretty tired of reading books about democracy so hopefully there’s a Willa Cather short story in my not so distant future

[David Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

He says we are past a unifying reason for hope. But his coda suggests a set of values that can only be described as spiritual. Can my faith and it's community contribute to this reformulation, or are we more likely to be front line combatants in it? As is currently the case

[Joe Beery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want everyone I know to read this so we can talk about it and build imaginaries of hope.