Wilson Carey McWilliams Book order

The United States is facing a crisis of citizenship and democracy, with many feeling a loss of human connectedness and community bonds. Originally published in 1973, this book is a powerful call to reclaim the communal ties essential for democracy, authored by the influential political theorist Wilson Carey McWilliams. It presents a comprehensive interpretation of American historical and political thought, spanning from seventeenth-century White Puritanism to twentieth-century Black political thought. The work serves as a sustained reflection on the American political tradition while also laying the groundwork for a new political theory based on a diverse array of sources. McWilliams argues that to combat the malaise in modern democracy, we must return to the ideal of fraternity—an affection rooted in shared values and goals. This 50th anniversary edition includes a critique of the liberal tradition and proposes a new social philosophy for the future, accompanied by a new introduction from McWilliams's daughter, Susan McWilliams Barndt. She highlights that, amidst contemporary political challenges, this book reveals significant precedents for understanding our current situation.