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As we approach the elections of 2004, U.S. progressives are faced with the challenge of how to confront our unresponsive and apparently untouchable power structures. With millions of antiwar demonstrators glibly dismissed as a “focus group,” and with the collapse of political and intellectual dialogue into slogans and soundbites used to stifle protest—“Support the Troops,” “We Are the Greatest Nation on Earth,” etc.—many people feel cynical and hopeless.
Citizens of the Empire probes into the sense of disempowerment that has resulted from the Left’s inability to halt the violent and repressive course of post-9/11 U.S. policy. In this passionate and personal exploration of what it means to be a citizen of the world’s most powerful, affluent and militarized nation in an era of imperial expansion, Jensen offers a potent antidote to despair over the future of democracy.
In a plainspoken analysis of the dominant political rhetoric—which is intentionally crafted to depress political discourse and activism—Jensen reveals the contradictions and falsehoods of prevailing myths, using common-sense analogies that provide the reader with a clear-thinking rebuttal and a way to move forward with progressive political work and discussions.
With an ethical framework that integrates political, intellectual and emotional responses to the disheartening events of the past two years, Jensen examines the ways in which society has been led to this point and offers renewed hope for constructive engagement.
Robert Jensen is a professor of media law, ethics and politics at the University of Texas, Austin. He is the author of Writing Dissent: Taking Radical Ideas from the Margins to the Mainstream, among other books. He also writes for popular media, and his opinion and analytical pieces on foreign policy, politics and race have appeared in papers and magazines throughout the United States.
| Preface | ||
| Introduction: 9/11: A Moment Lost | ||
| Political Emotions: Fear and Anger | ||
| I | Cutting through the Fog of Political Rhetoric | 1 |
| Ch. 1 | The Greatest Nation on Earth | 3 |
| Ch. 2 | Support the Troops | 19 |
| Ch. 3 | Patriotism | 37 |
| II | Understanding Political and Intellectual Realities | 53 |
| Ch. 4 | More Freedom, Less Democracy: American Political Culture in the Twentieth Century | 55 |
| Ch. 5 | Knowing and Doing: The Failures of the University | 77 |
| III | Confronting Ourselves | 93 |
| Ch. 6 | Seeking Pain and Reducing Pleasure | 95 |
| Ch. 7 | Hope | 111 |
| Conclusion: A Moment Found? | 123 | |
| Political Emotions: Despair and Alienation | 123 |
Anonymous
Posted October 13, 2006
Jensen is thoughtful and persuasive in his arguments. He presents a practical assessment of what he, and many progressives (his intended audience, which he states) believe to be wrong with the way democracy is ineffectively dialogued between citizens, the media and our political establishment. He offers a thoughtful and moral philosophy for citzenship that should reach across political ideologies to any US citizen. The previous gentleman would do himself a service to read the book before writing a review. Basing a book review off an interview is absurd.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 5, 2006
Saw the interview with Bill O'Reilly on FOX concerning this book. At age 76, I do not see what anyone would gain from such an author. Book could be used in classroom to generate discussion, but if I believed his thesis of U.S. activities, I would not be able to live here, and I certainly would not want to live in Cuba, Libya, or Venezuela under their present leadership with which he seems to sympathize. Prefer my ID not be shown, since I do not want to hear from the anti-government types.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 6, 2004
A great book with a much needed realistic look at U.S. foriegn policy today and its effect on the world.
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Overview
As we approach the elections of 2004, U.S. progressives are faced with the challenge of how to confront our unresponsive and apparently untouchable power structures. With millions of antiwar demonstrators glibly dismissed as a “focus group,” and with the collapse of political and intellectual dialogue into slogans and soundbites used to stifle protest—“Support the Troops,” “We Are the Greatest Nation on Earth,” etc.—many people feel cynical and hopeless.
Citizens of the Empire ...