Citation

"Bryan, Bryan, Bryan, Bryan": Tragic Populism in Philip Roth's America

Abstract | Word Stems | Keywords | Association | Citation | Get this Document | Similar Titles




STOP!

You can now view the document associated with this citation by clicking on the "View Document as HTML" link below.

View Document as HTML:
Click here to view the document

Abstract:

Populism, as both ideology and social movement, is nearly a universal, albeit sporadic, feature of all modern democratic political systems. Populism is also arguably the only example of an indigenous radical mass movement in America and after the discredited state of socialism, the only continuing source of democratic protest. Yet populism does not enjoy a central place in democratic theory. In fact, many writers contend that when populism arises, it has a destabilizing effect on democratic regimes. Even when others attempt to credit populism, they acknowledge the existence of significant negative features. This essay reviews the contested status of populism and suggests a greater appreciation of its positive contribution to democratic theory can be reached through an analysis of Philip Roth’s “American Trilogy.” Like Roth, students of populism place their assessments in the context of historical narratives. Thus Roth’s fictional recreations of post-war America can be compared to the analyses of “populist moments” in America analyzed by both populist critics and defenders. Unlike most democratic theorists, however, Roth is willing to explore the nature and source of populist anger and related expressions and thus expose its poignant dimensions. By appending Roth’s insights, it is possible to ameliorate populism’s contested status in democratic theory by acknowledging the positive role of emotion, properly understood, in political protest.

Most Common Document Word Stems:

populist (81), popul (71), american (49), polit (44), democrat (42), father (41), roth (37), new (36), movement (28), one (26), univers (25), levov (20), anger (20), york (20), press (19), also (19), men (17), america (16), theori (16), silk (15), featur (15),

Author's Keywords:

democratic theory; populism; literature; social movements
Convention
All Academic Convention is the premier solution for your association's abstract management solutions needs.
Submission - Custom fields, multiple submission types, tracks, audio visual, multiple upload formats, automatic conversion to pdf.Review - Peer Review, Bulk reviewer assignment, bulk emails, ranking, z-score statistics, and multiple worksheets!
Reports - Many standard and custom reports generated while you wait. Print programs with participant indexes, event grids, and more!Scheduling - Flexible and convenient grid scheduling within rooms and buildings. Conflict checking and advanced filtering.
Communication - Bulk email tools to help your administrators send reminders and responses. Use form letters, a message center, and much more!Management - Search tools, duplicate people management, editing tools, submission transfers, many tools to manage a variety of conference management headaches!
Click here for more information.

Association:
Name: American Political Science Association
URL:
http://www.apsanet.org


Citation:
URL: http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p60913_index.html
Direct Link:
HTML Code:

MLA Citation:

Abbott, Philip. ""Bryan, Bryan, Bryan, Bryan": Tragic Populism in Philip Roth's America" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Hilton Chicago and the Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, IL, Sep 02, 2004 <Not Available>. 2009-05-26 <http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p60913_index.html>

APA Citation:

Abbott, P. , 2004-09-02 ""Bryan, Bryan, Bryan, Bryan": Tragic Populism in Philip Roth's America" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Hilton Chicago and the Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, IL Online <.PDF>. 2009-05-26 from http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p60913_index.html

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Populism, as both ideology and social movement, is nearly a universal, albeit sporadic, feature of all modern democratic political systems. Populism is also arguably the only example of an indigenous radical mass movement in America and after the discredited state of socialism, the only continuing source of democratic protest. Yet populism does not enjoy a central place in democratic theory. In fact, many writers contend that when populism arises, it has a destabilizing effect on democratic regimes. Even when others attempt to credit populism, they acknowledge the existence of significant negative features. This essay reviews the contested status of populism and suggests a greater appreciation of its positive contribution to democratic theory can be reached through an analysis of Philip Roth’s “American Trilogy.” Like Roth, students of populism place their assessments in the context of historical narratives. Thus Roth’s fictional recreations of post-war America can be compared to the analyses of “populist moments” in America analyzed by both populist critics and defenders. Unlike most democratic theorists, however, Roth is willing to explore the nature and source of populist anger and related expressions and thus expose its poignant dimensions. By appending Roth’s insights, it is possible to ameliorate populism’s contested status in democratic theory by acknowledging the positive role of emotion, properly understood, in political protest.

Get this Document:

Find this citation or document at one or all of these locations below. The links below may have the citation or the entire document for free or you may purchase access to the document. Clicking on these links will change the site you're on and empty your shopping cart.

Abstract Only All Academic Inc.
Associated Document Available American Political Science Association
Associated Document Available Political Research Online

Document Type: .PDF
Page count: 25
Word count: 7296
Text sample:
1 Philip Abbott Dept. Political Science Wayne State University 2067 FAB Detroit MI 48202 e-mail: aa2393@wayne.edu "`Bryan Bryan Bryan Bryan': Democratic Theory Populism and Philip Roth's American Trilogy"* *Prepared for delivery at the 2004 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association September 2 - September 5 2004. Copyright by the American Political Science Association. Abstract Populism as both ideology and social movement is nearly a universal albeit sporadic feature of all modern democratic political systems. Populism is also
Even recent populist sympathizers express concern over the extent to which" right-wing populism" has crowed out other variants (Kazin 245-66; Lasch 476-508.). vi At the novel's end Eve Frame is exposed by her husband as "passing" as well. vii Father/son relationships are a central focus of all of Roth's fiction. He examines his own in the memoir Patrimony (1991). See: Milowitz (2000 61-86). viii Merry tells her father that her stutter subsides when she makes bombs. ix Nussbaum does


Similar Titles:
Social Movement Impacts on Political Democratization: Analyzing Causality between Social Movements and Political Changes

Written and Unwritten America: Roth on Reading, Politics and Theory


 
All Academic, Inc. is your premier source for research and conference management. Visit our website, www.allacademic.com, to see how we can help you today.