The good citizen
Subtitle: a history of American civic life
By: Michael Schudson.
Publisher: Martin Kessler Books
Published: 1998
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 390
Subjects: Political participation -- United States -- History; Political culture -- United States -- History; Citizenship -- United States; Civics
Description: In 1996 less than half of all eligible voters even bothered to vote. Fewer citizens each year follow government and public affairs regularly or even think they should. Is popular sovereignty a failure? Not necessarily, argues Michael Schudson in this provocative and unprecedented history of citizenship in America. Measuring voter turnout or attitudes is a poor approximation of citizenship. The meaning of voting - and what counts as politics - has changed dramatically over the course of our history.

Today, political participation takes place in schools, at home, at work, and in the courts. We have made "informed citizenship" an overwhelming task. Schudson argues that it is time for a new model, in which we stop expecting everyone to do everything. The new citizenship must rest on citizens who are monitors of political danger rather than walking encyclopedias of governmental news. This tour of the past makes it possible to imagine a very different - and much more satisfying - future.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 315-369) and index.