The Right Nation: Conservative Power in America

I read this book in 2023, so my impressions are through that prism.
'The Right Nation', published in 2004, in the middle of the George W.Bush presidency, concludes by suggesting that the Republican Party will be in control for the foreseeable future, as the American left has capitulated to the better organised right. Remembering when this was published (so, excuses), none of the following are mentioned in this book: Obama, Biden, Trump, Palin, Pence. Nor of course is there any discussion of QAnon, or insurrections, or the power of Twitter (X). Curiously, post Bush, Democrats have been in the White House for 12 of the next 16 years.
As an outsider who has only become interested in US politics in recent years, it was interesting to learn show more that the distrust, and at times hatred, between the two major parties has been around for a long time; political rhetoric has been toxic for ever - it's not a modern phenomenon.
The book made for interesting reading, as it provides an excellent discussion of post-Cold War politics in the USA.
It does reinforce the fact that for all the surface similarities, the USA is definitely different to the rest of the "western" world. show less

Excellent! The authors being Brits, they come at their subject very objectively, and generally do a fine job describing, well, me.

Their main contentions that America's conservatism is innate due to our "recent" founding and lack of ties to "old" Europe, religiosity, and suspicion of the state are spot on.

Naturally, they spend a lot of ink on current foreign policy and some of their conclusions are being outdated by the minute as the surge gains more momentum in Iraq. However, their reasoning that Right Nation is distrustful of international institutions such as the UN, while correct, is lacking. They attribute it to the US's distrust of "states" in general and our "rugged individualism." The authors seems to overlook minor disgraces show more such as Oil for Food and don't seem to notice a somewhat concerted effort by America's enemies to use the UN as the only viable counterweight to American power. They rightfully mention the travesties such as Kofi Annan and Rwanda, and Cuba being on the Human Rights Commission, but seem to miss the narrative that the UN is basically out to thwart any values America holds dear.

That said, this is a great overview of how the USA became what it is. Having just traveled to Mexico and experienced anti-Americanism first had for the first time, I think this book would be a wonderful introduction for foreigners to help them learn just what is going on in the US's collective mind (should they be so inclined). show less

An insightful, well-written, and thoroughly enjoyable read. Perhaps it is because of their distance from the subject at hand, the authors are able to present a work that does not seem ideologically bent in a liberal or conservative direction. This is neither a hate-filled diatribe or a jingoistic, flag-waving anthem from a conservative perspective.

For me, one of the best books written on understanding the conservative nature of American politics.

All Americans are conservative

... and HERE is the prime reason why Europe does not understand the USA, and also why Democrats have gone from being Americans that lean left to Europeans that sometimes lean American!

"The Right Nation" shows that we are, indeed, a religious nation, both Democrat and Republican. They do a fantastic job explaining American conservatism and why it differs from European conservatism. This point cannot be discussed enough, really.

European conservatives are hidebound and rooted completely in Monarchic pasts, but American conservatism is and always has been a progressive conservatism. And now, the European right is becoming reactionary and racist which is just a reflection of a racism that has never been defeated show more in Europe as it has in the US.

This book is a must, even for Democrats, if you want to understand the reason Europe doesn't "get" the USA and why we Americans should be wary of becoming too much like Europe. Becoming more like Europe would be an abrogation of everything that has been and should be truly American in nature.

Get this book! show less

Fascinating and excellent read by two "Economist" reports, Brits living in US. Provides illuminating explanation of two related areas: first, how and why American political culture is fundamentally different than Europe, and second, what exactly is the c

A history of the Republican party in the USA in the 1960s onwards. A fairly objective account of the conservative/liberal tugs-of-war which explained my whole childhood to me. Perhaps only for diehard American political enthusiasts, but fascinating.

Great book. Very thorough and the drier topics are kept interesting with great anecdotes obtained through first-hand research. These two Brits have done both the left and right in Americaa service by conducting such a thorough and insightful analysis of the modern American political landscape.