| Title:
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THE SEARCH FOR POLITICAL COMMUNITY
AMERICAN ACTIVISTS REINVENTING COMMITMENT |
| By: |
Paul Lichterman, Jeffrey C. Alexander, Steven Seidman |
| Format: |
Hardback |
| List price:
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£90.00 |
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| ISBN 10: |
0521482860 |
| ISBN 13: |
9780521482868 |
| Publisher: |
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS |
| Pub. date: |
19 September, 1996 |
| Series: |
Cambridge Cultural Social Studies |
| Pages: |
292 |
| Description: |
Study of environmental groups assessing different cultures of political commitment in post-traditional society. |
| Synopsis: |
This book challenges the myth that Americans' emphasis on personal fulfilment necessarily weakens commitment to the common good. Drawing on extensive participant-observation with a variety of environmentalist groups, Paul Lichterman argues that individualism sometimes enhances public, political commitment and that a shared respect for individual inspiration enables activists with diverse political backgrounds to work together. This personalised culture of commitment has sustained activists working long-term for social change. The book contrasts 'personalised politics' in mainly white environmental groups with a more traditional, community-centred culture of commitment in an African-American group. The untraditional, personalised politics of many recent social movements invites us to rethink common understandings of commitment, community, and individualism in a post-traditional world. |
| Illustrations: |
8 tables |
| Publication: |
UK |
| Imprint: |
Cambridge University Press |
| Returns: |
Returnable |