Hijacking America
Subtitle: how the religious and secular right changed what Americans think
By: Susan George.
Publisher: Polity
Published: 2008
Place of publication: Cambridge, UK; Malden, MA
Language: eng
Number of pages: 280
ISBN-13: 9780745644608; 9780745644615
Subjects: Religion and politics -- United States; Religious right -- United States; Right and left (Political science); United States -- Social conditions -- 21st century; United States -- Politics and government -- 2001-; United States -- Foreign relations -- 2001-
Description: "George Bush leaves the White House in January 2009 and the United States goes back to "normal", right? Wrong, argues Susan George in this fascinating, thorough and often chilling account of the decades-long transformation of American society and political culture. Using the four "Ms"--Money, media, marketing, management--but above all with a keen sense of mission, the American secular and religious right has made its "long march through the institutions" and changed the way Americans think. As the left went about its business in blissful ignorance, convinced that its policies, programmes and projects spoke for themselves and would always prevail; the right's well-oiled machine of foundations, lobbies, think-tanks, publications, political cadres, lawyers and activist organisations slowly and strategically took over. A broad alliance of neo-liberals, neo-conservatives and the religious right successfully manufactured a new common sense, assaulted Enlightenment values and targeted the top of society where culture is created and legitimized, because they knew that ideas have consequences--and not just in the United States. Hijacking America is that rarity of a book, a thoroughly researched page-turner. Clearly and gracefully written, it will enthral the general reader while providing plenty of factual nourishment for the student of politics, culture, religion or international relations. And for all those who hope for a different America in the future, the first step is to hold the present one up to the light and understand how it got that way."-- Publisher description.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [255]-270) and index.