The American Civilizing Process

Since 9/11, the American government has presumed to speak and act in the name of ‘civilization’. But isthat how the rest of the world sees it? And if not, why not?<br /> <p>Stephen Mennell leads up to such contemporary questions through a careful study of the whole span of American development, from the first settlers to the American Empire. He takes a novel approach, analysing the USA’s experience in the light of Norbert Elias’s theory of civilizing (and decivilizing) processes.<br /> </p> <p>Drawing comparisons between the USA and other countries of the world, the topics discussed include:<br /> </p> <ul> <li style=”list-style: none”><br /> </li> <li>American manners and lifestyles</li> <li style=”list-style: none”><br /> </li> <li>Violence in American society</li> <li style=”list-style: none”><br /> </li> <li>The impact of markets on American social character</li> <li style=”list-style: none”><br /> </li> <li>American expansion, from the frontier to empire</li> <li style=”list-style: none”><br /> </li> <li>The ‘curse of the American Dream’ and increasing inequality</li> <li style=”list-style: none”><br /> </li> <li>The religiosity of American life</li> </ul> <br /> <p>Mennell shows how the long-term experience of Americans has been of growing more and more powerful in relation to their neighbours. This has had all-pervasive effects on the way they see themselves, their perception of the rest of the world, and how the rest of the world sees them.<br /> </p> <p>Mennell’s compelling and provocative account will appeal to anyone concerned about America’s role in the world today, including students and scholars of American politics and society.</p>