The Dilemma of American Political Thought

This anthology explores the evolutionary development of American political philosophy from the 1600's to the present — with a focus on the interplay between government authority, individual liberty, and private property. It approaches American political theory as the product of a continuing struggle over — and the search for the correct balance between — government authority, individual liberty, and private property; provides readings that represent a survey of American political thought since the first English settlements on the continent to the late 1980s; examines American foreign policy for its impact on domestic affairs, rather than for its impact in other countries.