Defining a political ideology as "a guide to political action", reflecting a choice among values and decisions about the relative emphasis to give to them, this book provides a sweeping portrait of the political spectrum of the United States in the 1990s. Proclaiming at the outset his own progressive liberal leanings, the author announces his intention to survey the field with fairness and objectivity. Van Dyke recongnizes first the relevance of 19th century British politics to the current American debate, then proceeds to a detailed analysis of the history and prominent features of progressive liberalism, ranging from Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal, to Lyndon Johnson and the Great Society, to the present-day proponents of governmental activism in the service of liberty and equality. Next, he turns to the individualistic doctrines of libertarianism and "public choice" theory, before differentiating the five basic kinds of conservatism: conservative, economic, social, progressive and neo-. Contending that American ideologies are identified mainly on the basis of stands taken on domestic issues, Van Dyke provides a summary consideration of ideological positions on foreign policy issues, and then concludes his survey with an assessment of the "neoliberal" attitudes espoused by Bill Clinton and some observations on the reasons for ideological disagreements.
Part 1 Introduction. Part 2 The British background: a preview; the focus on the individual; constitutional government and civil rights; economic freedom, laissez faire?; social Darwinism; new liberalism; a national consensus?; reprise; reason, tolerance, and progress. Part 3 Progressive liberalism - the New Deal: the Great Depression; laissez faire?; Roosevelt's stance; New Deal legislation; Roosevelt's ideology . Part 4 progressive liberalism - the great society and welfare: the end of ideology; expanded New Deal programs; food stamps; Medicare and Medicaid; economic opportunity; redistributive?; the market; Johnson's ideology. Part 5 Progressive liberalism - equal treatment: Jim Crow; racial discrimination and the problem of redress; the Voting Rights Act of 1965; equal treatment for nonracial groups; multiculturalism; the environment. Part 6 Progressive liberalism - its nature: liberty; equality; tolerance and neutrality; the role of reason; the usefulness of government; welfare; taxes; underlying postulates; epilogue. Part 7 Libertarianism: liberty and the market; why liberty and the market?; collectivism? coercion?; social justice?, social responsibility?, uphold virtue?, equality?; criticisms of government; limited or minimal government; welfare and the Welfare State; private coercion; Robert Nozick; anarchocapitalism; social rigidities; externalities; reprise. Part 8 Public choice: assumptions; the argument; qualifications; the prescription; critique. Part 9 Conservative conservatism: distrust of rationalism; preference for the known; change; ideology, tradition, and God's will; "fusionism,". Part 10 Economic conservatism: hostility to government; taxes; the seven fat years; hostility to regulatory activities; equality of opportunity; welfare; crime; reprise. Part 11 Social conservatism - the source of moral rules; the program. Part 12 Progressive conservatism: the need for governmental action; empowerment; enterprise zones; housing; welfare reform; education; health care; nonpoverty concerns; big government? Part 13 Neoconservatism: hostility to communism and support for western values; hostility to egalitarianism; the Welfare State; defending America; virtue; neos and other conservatives. Part 14 Foreign policies: the terminological muddle; anticommunism and the Soviet threat; diplomacy, international law, and international organization; human rights and democracy; isolationism; America first; conservative conservatism; a new world order? Part 15 neoliberalisms: is liberalism discreditable?; a neoliberal manifesto; the end of equality; community; a new democrat? Part 16 Concluding observations: a comparison of conceptualizations; sources of agreement/disagreement.
