Nature and History in American Political Development

Download or read book Nature and History in American Political Development written by James W CEASER and published by Harvard University Press. This book was released on 2009-06-30 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this inaugural volume of the Alexis de Tocqueville Lectures, James Ceaser traces the way certain "foundational" ideas—including nature, history, and religion—have been understood and used over the course of American history. Ceaser treats these ideas as elements of political discourse that provide the ground for other political ideas, such as liberty or equality. Three critical commentators challenge Ceaser's arguments, and a spirited debate about large and enduring questions in American politics ensues.