Details

The Politics and Business of Self-Interest from Tocqueville to Trump


The Politics and Business of Self-Interest from Tocqueville to Trump


International Political Theory

von: Richard Ned Lebow

53,49 €

Verlag: Palgrave Macmillan
Format: PDF
Veröffentl.: 20.11.2017
ISBN/EAN: 9783319685694
Sprache: englisch

Dieses eBook enthält ein Wasserzeichen.

Beschreibungen

Self-interest is an important human motive and this book explores its evolution in the United States and its consequences for politics, business, and personal relationships. In the postwar era American understandings of self-interest have moved away from Alexis de Tocqueville’s concept of “self-interest well-understood” – in which people recognize that their interests are served by the success of the community of which they are part – towards “individualism” – by which he meant narrow framing that often leads people to pursue their interests at the expense of the community. The book documents this evolution through qualitative and quantitative content analysis of presidential speeches, television sitcoms and popular music, before exploring its negative consequences for democracy. <br/>
<p>1 Introduction.- 2 Self-Interest.- 3 Presidential Speeches.- 4 I Love Lucy to Modern Family.- 5 Rock to Rap.- 6 Self-Interest and Democracy.</p>
<p>Richard Ned Lebow is Professor at King’s College London, UK, and Bye-Fellow of Pembroke College, University of Cambridge, UK. He is a Fellow of the British Academy and author of 35 books and almost 300 peer reviewed articles and book chapters in a career spanning six decades.</p>
<p>Self-interest is an important human motive and this book explores its evolution in the United States and its consequences for politics, business, and personal relationships. In the postwar era American understandings of self-interest have moved away from Alexis de Tocqueville’s concept of “self-interest well-understood” – in which people recognize that their interests are served by the success of the community of which they are part – towards “individualism” – by which he meant narrow framing that often leads people to pursue their interests at the expense of the community. The book documents this evolution through qualitative and quantitative content analysis of presidential speeches, television sitcoms and popular music, before exploring its negative consequences for democracy. </p>
Explores underlying shifts in values and principles of justice to help account for political preferences Uses Tocqueville's notion of 'self-interest well-understood' to consider the political scene in the US Brings together empirical analysis of presidential speeches, sitcoms, and popular music with theoretical considerations of individualism
Explores underlying shifts in values and principles of justice to help account for political preferences<div><br/></div><div>Uses Tocqueville's notion of 'self-interest well-understood' to consider the political scene in the US</div><div><br/></div><div>Brings together empirical analysis of presidential speeches, sitcoms, and popular music with theoretical considerations of individualism </div>
“Richard Ned Lebow provides an insightful reading of the way the rhetoric of self-interest has shifted across recent American history. In a wide ranging critical analysis, Lebow examines political and popular discourses to pursue the negative impact of unrestrained self-interest. This volume will be essential reading for any citizen concerned with the trajectory of American politics and culture.” (Professor Kendall Phillips, Syracuse University, USA) <p>“Richard Ned Lebow provides an impressive analysis providing insight into the current state of political fragmentation and social polarization. He masterfully charts the transformation of America’s concept of self-interest based on the success of members of the community to individualism where all interests are self-interests without regard for others.  The age of psychological egoism where all interest is self-interest presents a clear danger to democracy.” (Professor Robert E. Denton, Virginia Tech, USA)</p>