Cultural Dilemmas of Progressive Politics: Styles of Engagement among Grassroots ActivistsUniversity of Chicago Press, 2010 M03 15 - 304 pages Why have conservatives fared so much better than progressives in recent decades, even though polls show no significant move to the right in public opinion? Cultural Dilemmas of Progressive Politics highlights one reason: that progressives often adopt impoverished modes of discourse, ceding the moral high ground to their conservative rivals. Stephen Hart also shows that some progressive groups are pioneering more robust ways of talking about their issues and values, providing examples other progressives could emulate. Through case studies of grassroots movements—particularly the economic justice work carried on by congregation-based community organizing and the pursuit of human rights by local members of Amnesty International—Hart shows how these groups develop distinctive ways of talking about politics and create characteristic stories, ceremonies, and practices. According to Hart, the way people engage in politics matters just as much as the content of their ideas: when activists make the moral basis for their activism clear, engage issues with passion, and articulate a unified social vision, they challenge the recent ascendancy of conservative discourse. On the basis of these case studies, Hart addresses currently debated topics such as individualism in America and whether strains of political thought strongly informed by religion and moral values are compatible with tolerance and liberty. |
Contents
II CongregationBased Community Organizing | 25 |
III Human Rights and Amnesty International | 121 |
IV How Should We Talk about Politics? | 187 |
Appendixes | 231 |
Notes | 253 |
Index | 277 |
Other editions - View all
Cultural Dilemmas of Progressive Politics: Styles of Engagement Among ... Stephen Hart Limited preview - 2001 |
Cultural Dilemmas of Progressive Politics: Styles of Engagement among ... Stephen M. Hart No preview available - 2001 |
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action active adopt African American agenda Alinsky American Amnesty activists Amnesty International Amnesty’s argue argument articulate basic Cabanilla Catholic Catholic social teachings CCHD chapter Christian church civil society commitment concept concerns congregation-based community organizing congregations cultural traditions David Mann death penalty democracy democratic described discussion Durkheim economic justice ethical expansive discourse expressed faith faith-based community organizing faith-based organizing focus freedom Furthermore Gamaliel ganizing goals human rights ideas individual interview involved issues kind letters liberty Lichterman mandate manifest meeting ments MICAH Milwaukee modes of discourse moral movement narratives networks one’s orga organizational PACT participants pastors person perspective PICO practical principles prisoners of conscience progressive politics public discourse radical Reifenberg relationship religion religious rights language Robert Bellah Saul Alinsky secular self-interest social solidarity Spivey-Perry stance story talk task force teleology tion transcendent UDHR values
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Page 241 - The conventions of a number of the states having, at the time of their adopting the constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added...
Page 244 - All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. Article 2 Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Page 244 - All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Page 245 - ARTICLE 10 Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.
Page 245 - Article 13 1 Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State. 2 Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country. Article 14 1 Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution. 2 This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
Page 241 - RESOLVED, by the Senate, and House of Representatives, of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, Two Thirds of both Houses concurring, That the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States as Amendments to the Constitution of the United States...
Page 248 - Article 27 1 . Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits. 2. Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.
Page 97 - Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened, "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?
Page 248 - Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit. 2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Page 248 - Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author. Article 28, Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized. Article 29. (1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.