Healing the Body Politic: Rediscovering Political Power

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Bloomsbury Academic, 1993 - Political Science - 254 pages

American politics and government are so moribund, according to Erwin Jaffe, that serious political dialogue is a stranger in a land celebrated for freedom of expression. Healing the Body Politic examines the sources of this condition, among them the loss of connectedness (society's orientation toward mobility and its relative disinterest in place, neighborhood, and community), widespread misunderstanding of the distinction and relationship between power and violence, and a distorted image of political life and responsibility. This broad-based work examines these problems and proposes, both in theoretical and practical terms, a rethinking and rediscovery of political power and political life as the only viable solution.

Drawing on a variety of fields, including traditional political theory, this work points the way to a restoration of American political life and our ability to cope once again with the problems of civil society. It will be of interest to scholars and students of political science, political theory, and American government.

From inside the book

 

Contents

Initial Thoughts on Power
5
Politics and Ambiguity
15
Some Thoughts about Connections
25
Copyright

11 other sections not shown

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Healing the Body Politic: Rediscovering Political Power
Erwin A. Jaffe
No preview available - 1993

Common terms and phrases

action activities affairs African Americans arena Arendt aspect of power authority ball baseball become behavior believe bureaucracy called citizens civil claim concerns connectedness connections Constitution contemporary decision depends developed economic elite elite theory empowerment entity example existence fact federal football games of rules global Hannah Arendt Hobbes human Ibid idea ideology imagery individual initiation institutions interest group interest-group theory invisible Jean-Jacques Rousseau John Locke labor labor power land leaders legitimacy live maintain Marxism means ment metaphor nation natural ongoing operations person Physiocrats Political Action Committee political power political process politicians politicking possible potential presence president pressure problems requires response Richard Rorty rulership sense share social society Soviet Union speak talk things Thomas Hobbes tion truths understand United violence visible W. E. B. DuBois words York York Giants

References to this book

About the author (1993)

ERWIN A. JAFFE, prior to his retirement in 1988, taught political science at Rutgers University, the University of New Hampshire, New England College, and California State University, Stanislaus. Currently, he lectures at the University of New Hampshire, Manchester.

Bibliographic information

TitleHealing the Body Politic: Rediscovering Political Power
AuthorErwin A. Jaffe
PublisherBloomsbury Academic, 1993
Original fromthe University of Michigan
DigitizedOct 13, 2008
ISBN0275943615, 9780275943615
Length254 pages
Subjects ›  › 

Political Science / American Government / National
Political Science / General
Social Science / General
  
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