Description
Book SynopsisThis work examines how an anthropological definition of culture shaped the central political and social narratives of the Cold War era. The author suggests that the emphasis on individualism in contemporary identity politics must be understood as a legacy of the Cold War liberalism of the 1950s.
Trade ReviewA World Made Safe for Differences will make a significant contribution to the field of American cultural and intellectual history. Shannon is becoming a leading voice in a radical reconsideration of modern American intellectual life. -- James T. Fisher, University of St. Louis
Christopher Shannon is a highly original and provocative critic. Whether or not one agrees with the Catholic tradition out of which he writes, it cannot be denied that his perspective in A World Made Safe for Differences is challenging and illuminating in important ways, revealing heretofore unseen connections between modernity, secularism, culture, and identity in the work of leading postwar intellectuals. With this book he opens up new space for thinking freshly about the intellectual culture of the mid-twentieth century. -- Thomas Bender, New York University
A very thought-provoking book for anyone interested in modern religious life, American secular society, and the complex and challenging relations between the two. Particularly intriguing is the book's study of the relationship between autonomy (and the self) and community (and culture). -- Amitai Etzioni, professor, George Washington University; founder of the Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics
A brilliant young historian and social critic traces the ramifications of the postwar ideology of tolerance. * Christianity Today *
Provides a valuable critical lens for thinking about contemporary multiculturalism and its prevailing discourse of tolerance. * Insight *
The main argument—that Western intellectuals during the Cold War sought to respect other cultures or non-mainstream movements even as they practiced subtle imperialism—is beautifully and forcefully demonstrated. -- Robert Royal, Ethics and Public Policy Center
Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Integrating the World Chapter 2: Culture and Counterculture Chapter 3: The Negro Dilemma Chapter 4: Beyond the Unmeltable Ethics Chapter 5: The Feminist Mystique Chapter 6: Compulsory Sexuality Conclusion
