Contemporary United States: Democracy at the Crossroads

Description

This sixth edition of a well-established introduction to life in the United States covers everything from US politics, society and culture, to the country's history, economy and place on the world stage. With extensive use of empirical data and illustrative material, Contemporary United States offers readers critical commentary on key political developments and allows them to place this within a wider historical and cultural context. This new edition offers coverage of all of the latest domestic and international developments, including: -The continuing divide between rich and poor, addressing social, legal, economic, and political inequality -The domestic and international ramifications of the Covid-19-induced recession -The rise of China, the return of Putin and the complexity of problems in North Korea, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan -The #MeToo and the Black Lives Matter movements -The Biden administration to date. Contemporary United States takes a broad, balanced approach - considering conservative and liberal, pragmatic and idealistic perspectives in each chapter. It is essential reading for those taking modules on contemporary America across degree programmes in American studies and civilization, English studies, history, sociology and politics.

Joseph Goddard is Associate Professor of American Studies, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Russell Duncan is Professor of History, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

This remains the go-to text for an understanding of the contemporary United States. It continues to be the leading source for information for my undergraduates who wish to gain an in-depth appreciation of the USA, its historical roots and those events which have shaped the America of today. * Murray Leith, Professor of Political Science, University of the West of Scotland, UK * This new edition of Contemporary United States mixes history, sociology and political science in a very fruitful way to produce a one volume introductory text that should be indispensable reading for undergraduate students of American politics and/or society. * Ole Helmersen, Associate Professor of British & American Studies, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark * Contemporary United States continues to be a one-stop shop for everything the aspiring student and scholar would want to know about the most complex and diverse nation on earth. Packed full of up-to-the-minute details and analysis, Goddard and Duncan do a remarkable job of condensing America's core elements. A brilliant synopsis that leads the way as a primer for the study of the United States in all its glorious, contradictory, and increasingly controversial ways. * Ian Scott, Professor of American Film and History, University of Manchester, UK * Tackling the further fissuring of the U.S. in an unflinching but balanced way, this edition provides the necessary overview to understand the complicated and complex reality of contemporary America. Written in clear prose and with academic breadth, it is certain to be a go-to resource for teachers of undergraduate courses. * Steen Ledet Christiansen, Professor of Popular Visual Culture, Aalborg University, Denmark *