The Foundations of American Jewish Liberalism

Shows how American Jews developed a liberal political culture that has influenced their political priorities from the founding to today.

Kenneth D. Wald (Author)

9781108497893, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 17 January 2019

270 pages, 15 b/w illus. 6 tables
23.5 x 15.7 x 1.8 cm, 0.51 kg

'… insightful, thoughtful, and delightful to read.' Gil Troy, AJS Review

American Jews have built a political culture based on the principle of equal citizenship in a secular state. This durable worldview has guided their political behavior from the founding to the present day. In The Foundations of American Jewish Liberalism, Kenneth D. Wald traces the development of this culture by examining the controversies and threats that stimulated political participation by American Jews. Wald shows that the American political environment, permeated by classic liberal values, produced a Jewish community that differs politically from non-Jews who resemble Jews socially and from Jewish communities abroad. Drawing on survey data and extensive archival research, the book examines the ups and downs of Jewish attachment to liberalism and the Democratic Party and the tensions between two distinct strains of liberalism.

Part I. The Problem(s) of American Jewish Liberalism: 1. America is different
2. Why American Jewish politics is puzzling
3. How is America different?
Part II. Development of the American Jewish Political Culture: 4. How Jews fell in love with the American regime
5. Jewish political culture in the early national period
6. Consolidating Jewish political culture
7. Early twentieth century challenges to Jewish political culture
Part III. Jewish Liberalism and the Democratic Party in the Post-New Deal Era
8. Jewish political culture during the 'long sixties' and after
9. Resurgence of democratic partisanship in the post-new deal era
10. The persistence of the Jewish liberal tradition
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Political activism [JPW], Political structures: democracy [JPHV], Politics & government [JP], Sociology [JHB], Jewish studies [JFSR1], Religion & politics [HRAM2], History of the Americas [HBJK]