Democracy and Solidarity

James Davison Hunter is LaBrosse-Levinson Distinguished Professor of Religion, Culture, and Social Theory and executive director of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia. His books include Culture Wars and Science and the Good.

“Hunter is (in my opinion) the nation’s leading cultural historian.”—David Brooks, New York Times“A rich book filled with nuanced interpretations of some of the key texts in American political thought. . . . Hunter . . . [seeks] renewal through an anti-utopian, practical vision for our political culture.”—Michael S. Roth, Los Angeles Review of Books“[A] wonderfully intelligent book, impressively readable.”—Rowan Williams, New Statesman“I’m grateful to Hunter. I think I understand my American friends, their country and their present challenges better for his insights.”—Roger Standing, Seen & UnseenWinner of the 2024 Roy C. Palmer Civil Liberties Prize, sponsored by the IIT Chicago-Kent College of LawWinner of the 2025 Edwards Book Award, sponsored by the Rodel Institute“With his characteristic wisdom and acuity, James Davison Hunter has written an important and illuminating work on the cultural roots of our current democratic discontents. For those seeking to understand how we got here—and what we can do now—this is a vital book.”—Jon Meacham, author of The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels“A fresh and challenging interpretation of America in crisis. Hunter has the insight to discern the nihilism pervading our politics, the courage to see its authoritarian consequences, and the wisdom to imagine humane alternatives.”—Jackson Lears, author of Animal Spirits: The American Pursuit of Vitality from Camp Meeting to Wall Street“Political theorists and others worried about American democracy increasingly recognize that successful politics rests on cultural bases. James Davison Hunter’s Democracy and Solidarity is among the most insightful analyses of these bases, the tensions making them unstable, and what it means today that so many so-called leaders have pulled back from working through the challenges.”—Craig Calhoun, coauthor of Degenerations of Democracy“In Democracy and Solidarity, James Davison Hunter offers a sweeping history of the American culture war. This book is extensively researched, extremely engaging, and offers a powerful, clear, and original argument.”—Kathleen Sands, author of America’s Religious Wars: The Embattled Heart of Our Public Life“Hunter has written a gripping account of the rise and fall of liberal democracy, reminding us that politics depends upon culture. This is a necessary book for anyone seeking to understand how America lost its way.”—Paul W. Kahn, author of Democracy in Our America: Can We Still Govern Ourselves?