Civics, Participation & Pluralism in Democracies, 20th Century American History - Social Aspects - Post World War II, Political Sociology, Political Activism & Social Action, Democracies & Republics - General & Miscellaneous, U.S. Politics & Government -
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Overview
In recent years, membership has dropped in traditional voluntary associations such as Rotary Clubs, Jaycees, and bowling leagues. At the same time, concern is rising about the growth of paramilitary and hate groups. In this provocative book, however, Nancy Rosenblum takes a new, less narrowly political approach to the study of groups. And she reaches more optimistic conclusions about the state of civil society. Rosenblum argues that we should judge associations not only by what they do for civic virtue, but also by what they do for individual members. She shows that groups of all kinds - among them religious groups, corporations, homeowners associations, secret societies, racial and cultural identity groups, prayer groups, and even paramilitary groups - fill deep psychological and moral needs. And she contends that the failure to recognize this has contributed to an alarmist view of their social impact. Rosenblum concludes that, for practical and principled reasons, American democracy should permit expansive freedom of association, illustrating her case with discussion of specific cases in law. Rosenblum recognizes, however, that freedom has a price. She reminds us that some groups have oppressive and even criminal tendencies, and she explores what liberal democracy should do to ensure that individuals also have freedom within associations and freedom to exit.Editorials
The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences
Membership and Morals is a thoughtful, challenging, and carefully nuanced book that should be read by all serious scholars of civil society.— Claire Morgan
The Times Literary Supplement -
Nancy L. Rosenblum in Membership and Morals has produced a powerful argument that the worriers have got it wrong—or at least they have chosen the wrong things to worry about.... Part of the attractiveness of her thesis is that it purports to cut across the usual lines of political battle.... The bulk of her book is made up of an impressive survey of the hard cases of social affiliation ... and her defense in every case of the rights of people in a democratic society to associate with those of like mind and belief.The New Republic -
Political theory, moral philosophy, and constitutional law desperately require a rigorous analysis of the role associations ought to play in sustaining good society. Such an analysis is precisely Nancy Rosenblum's great accomplishment.The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences -
Membership and Morals is a thoughtful, challenging, and carefully nuanced book that should be read by all serious scholars of civil society.The Times Literary Supplement
Nancy L. Rosenblum in Membership and Morals has produced a powerful argument that the worriers have got it wrong—or at least they have chosen the wrong things to worry about.... Part of the attractiveness of her thesis is that it purports to cut across the usual lines of political battle.... The bulk of her book is made up of an impressive survey of the hard cases of social affiliation ... and her defense in every case of the rights of people in a democratic society to associate with those of like mind and belief.— James Bowman
The New Republic
Political theory, moral philosophy, and constitutional law desperately require a rigorous analysis of the role associations ought to play in sustaining good society. Such an analysis is precisely Nancy Rosenblum's great accomplishment.— Alan Wolfe
The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science
Membership and Morals is a thoughtful, challenging, and carefully nuanced book that should be read by all serious scholars of civil society.
— Claire Morgan
Book Details
Published
April 28, 1998
Publisher
Princeton, N.J. : Princeton University Press, c1998.
Pages
425
Format
Hardcover
ISBN
9780691016894