A Great Disorder: National Myth and the Battle for America

The book "A Great Disorder" explores how American identity has been shaped by myths, leading to a culture war between Red and Blue America with differing views on government, patriotism, and national identity. Richard Slotkin identifies five myths that have shaped this conception, including the Frontier, Founding, Civil War, and Good War, and argues that Blue America envisions a pluralistic country where the federal government enforces rights, while Red America champions a racially exclusive definition. The future of American history and democracy is uncertain.

Format: Hardback
Length: 528 pages
Publication date: 05 March 2024
Publisher: Harvard University Press

As the culture wars rage on, A Great Disorder delves into the myths that have shaped American identity and uncovers the profound consequences they have brought about. The divide between Red America and Blue America has reached a point where they may as well exist as separate countries, with vastly differing perspectives on the purpose of government and who truly constitutes an American. These ideologies are rooted in distinct interpretations of American history, endorsing irreconcilable visions of patriotism and national identity.

A Great Disorder is a groundbreaking and urgent work that provides a fresh perspective on the current culture wars. Renowned for his trilogy on the Myth of the Frontier, Richard Slotkin identifies five myths that have profoundly shaped our understanding of what it means to be American: the myths of the Frontier, the Founding, the Civil War (which he divides into two opposing camps, Emancipation and the Lost Cause), and the Good War, represented by the multiethnic platoon fighting for freedom.

Slotkin's central argument is that while Trump and his MAGA followers have embraced a frontier-inspired hostility towards the federal government and rallied around Confederate symbols to champion a racially exclusive definition of American nationality, Blue America, drawing inspiration from the protest movements of the 1960s, envisions a country that is limitless in its pluralism, with the federal government serving as the ultimate protector of rights and opportunities.

The very foundations of American history and democracy have become a battleground. It remains uncertain which vision will ultimately prevail, leaving us in a state of profound uncertainty and instability. As we navigate this tumultuous period, A Great Disorder serves as a crucial guide, offering insights and analysis that help us make sense of the complex dynamics at play and chart a path forward toward a more inclusive and harmonious society.

Weight: 900g
Dimension: 169 x 244 x 41 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674292383