About this episode

The episode discusses Jeremy J. Holland's book on the political worldviews of American social movements and their impact on democracy and policy.

The Political Worldviews of American Social Movements: Partisan Politics and the Future of Democracy (Routledge, 2026) explores the political worldviews of progressive American social movements and how they play an increasingly important role in defining social problems, setting the national political agenda, and offering viable policy solutions. Arguing that the liberal consensus that historically held the United States together politically has broken down, this book demonstrates how new forms of authoritarian and democratic populisms are being offered as alternatives to a rigged capitalist system by an unaccountable oligarchy. It utilises the method of frame analysis to elucidate the political worldview of particular, left-leaning social movements, exploring their historical backgrounds, organizing methods, social grievances, policy solutions, current actions, and future goals. It examines three movements concerned with economic issues, three organizing around identity, and three advocating for change in the domain of public safety. The last chapter focuses on the current political situation in the U.S. and potential futures of democracy. Bringing together lessons from U.S…

People in this episode

Guest: Jeremy J. Holland

Topics covered

• American social movements
• political worldviews
• democracy
• populism
• policy solutions
• social problems

Keywords

• social movements
• political agenda
• authoritarianism
• democratic populism
• frame analysis
• economic issues
• identity
• public safety

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Routledge

Places: United States

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