Author Description

Through a critique of recent political thought drawn in part from the works of Althusser, Gadamer, Habermas, and Ricoeur, the author concludes that ideological change is a complex, multidimensional process. He proposes an evolutionary theory of change. Since any new ideology must coexist with previously held values and ideas, Williams writes, ideological change is most likely to proceed through the revival of submerged, forgotten, or marginalized strains of the dominant tradition of American liberalism. Using clear, concise, and direct language, American Liberalism and Ideological Change will appeal to general readers as well as to academics interested in political thought, liberalism, and political ideologies in several disciplines, including political science, philosophy, sociology, and history.