The Paranoid Style in American Politics

Richard Hofstadter, Sean Wilentz

Vintage Books, Jun 10, 2008 - History - 330 pages

This timely reissue of Richard Hofstadter's classic work on the fringe groups that influence American electoral politics offers an invaluable perspective on contemporary domestic affairs.

In The Paranoid Style in American Politics, acclaimed historian Richard Hofstadter examines the competing forces in American political discourse and how fringe groups can influence — and derail — the larger agendas of a political party. He investigates the politics of the irrational, shedding light on how the behavior of individuals can seem out of proportion with actual political issues, and how such behavior impacts larger groups. With such other classic essays as “Free Silver and the Mind of 'Coin' Harvey” and “What Happened to the Antitrust Movement?, ” The Paranoid Style in American Politics remains both a seminal text of political history and a vital analysis of the ways in which political groups function in the United States.

What people are saying

Review: The Paranoid Style in American Politics and Other Essays

User Review  - Will - Goodreads

Everybody else has noted the prescience and relevance of Hofstadter's title essay (a study of the psychology underlying the extremist rhetoric of the John Birch Society and related libertarian ...

Review: The Paranoid Style in American Politics

User Review  - Ryan - Goodreads

A delightful read.

Contents

• The Paranoid Style in American Politics: 3
• The PseudoConservative Revolt1954: 41
• PseudoConservatism Revisited1965: 66

About the author

Born in 1916, Richard Hofstadter was one of the leading American historians and public intellectuals of the 20th century. His works include The Age of Reform, Anti-intellectualism in American Life, Social Darwinism in American Thought, 1860-1915, The American Political Tradition, and others. He died in 1970.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Paranoid Style in American Politics; Vintage Series
• Authors: Richard Hofstadter, Sean Wilentz
• Contributor: Sean Wilentz
• Edition: reprint
• Publisher: Vintage Books, 2008
• Original from: Northwestern University
• Digitized: Jun 29, 2011
• ISBN: 0307388441, 9780307388445
• Length: 330 pages
• Subjects: History / United States / 20th Century; Philosophy / Political; Political Science / American Government / General; Political Science / Essays; Political Science / General; Political Science / Political Ideologies / Conservatism & Liberalism; Political Science / Political Process / General; Public opinion; Public opinion - United States; Public opinion/ United States; Right and left (Political science); Social Science / Sociology / General; United States; United States - Politics and government - 20th century