The Catholic University of America
George
F. McLean, Director
P.O. Box 261, Cardinal Station
Washington, DC 20064
Tel/fax: (202) 319-6089 E-mail: mclean@cua.edu
Website: http://www.crvp.org
The National Center for
Urban Ethnic Affairs (NCUEA) and the Center for the Study of Culture and Values
(CSCV) will sponsor a post-election forum at noon on Nov. 8 at the National
Press Club. It will review the national election results in the light of the new
work of Prof. John K. White's new book, The Values Divide (see below). To
attend the luncheon call The Center at 202- 319-6089.
The Values Divide
is an accessible yet penetrating study of the value structure of the American
electorate. At this pivotal moment it identifies new directions in American
culture and politics. Hence, this National Issues Forum devoted to the
discussion of White’s finding promises the shed important light on the
interpretation of the results of the present election and indicate avenues for
the preparation of the next.
Prof. White will be joined
by a number of specialists on the multiple American electorates and their value
patterns: John Zogby, a leading public opinion analyst, whose recent work along
with James Zogby, President of the Arab American Institute (AAI), "What
Ethnic Americans Really Think" was previously featured at an NCUEA/CRVP/NIAF
National Issues Forum; Dr. Charles A. Kromkowski, author of Recreating the
American Republic, Cambridge University Press and Senior Fellow of the
Center for the Study of Religion and Democracy; Dr. John Kromkowski, President
of the National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs; Dr. Alfred Rotondaro, former
executive director of the National Italian American Foundation; and Prof. George
F. McLean, President of the international Council for Research in Values and
Philosophy (CRVP). Also participating will be a set of public intellectuals from
Uzbekistan, the Ukraine, Kenya, Somalia, Cameroon, India and China who are
currently at The Catholic University of America for a ten week CSCV seminar on
“Cultural Identity and Globalization”.
Endorsements of The Values Divide include:
"John White has a deep understanding of our
culture. Every corner of it--politics, television, journalism, religion,
scholarship, sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. This book puts it all together in the
story of our times." --Bill Schneider, Senior Political Analyst, CNN
"John White's new book cuts a wide swath, from America in the 1600s to the
stereotypical post-WWII family through the closing years of the 1900s and the
wrenching events of the recent past. His thorough research highlights the
diversity of opinion in a free society and raises important questions for
America in the 21st Century." --Bob Kerrey, President, New School
University
"John Kenneth White's The Values Divide goes directly to the core of
contemporary American politics. White's book explores the cultural and moral
polarizations in American society that have come to shape both elections and
policy. The Values Divide is essential reading not only for students of
politics, but for everyone interested in public policy and the nature of the
conflicts that underpin the emergence of forces as diverse as the Religious
Right and feminism, and played crucial roles in the Clinton impeachment debate,
the election of President George W. Bush and in the defining of a new liberalism
and a new conservatism." -- Thomas B, Edsall, The Washington Post
"Increasingly, Americans are divided on election day not by their economic
interests or ethnic origins, but by their values. The Values Divide looks at our
politics and shows how this came to be, what it meant in the close presidential
election of 2000 and what it means after September 11." --Michael Barone,
Senior Writer, U.S. News & World Report
"A fascinating, up to the minute account that puts recent American politics
in a broad and meaningful context, including our divided values. Highly
recommended to the reader who wants to make sense of our complex politics."
--James MacGregor Burns, Williams College
Political change too often is dissected, described, and analyzed in the narrow
frames of reference of issues, images, and candidates and coalitions: These, as
John Kenneth White masterfully points out in his latest book, The Values Divide,
when considered alone none capture the dynamic political force of clashing
values nor recognize that values underpin almost all significant political
change that reflect in the emerging issues, party images, coalitions and the
candidates." --Richard Wirthlin, Chairman of the Board of Wirthlin
Worldwide
"John Kenneth White brings vast erudition and keen political insights to
study of the critical value clashes that have recently divided not only our
political life but our entire society. Covering the evolution of American values
from the 1950s to the response to the tragedies of September 11, 2001, he finds
a nation deeply torn-- but with a welcome glimpse of possible healing and
reunion at the end." -- James Reichley, Georgetown University
"The Values Divide cogently captures the critical role culture plays in
American politics. It is a primer for understanding the Clinton and Bush eras,
and more importantly, what lies beyond." --John Green, Head of the Ray C.
Bliss Institute
"The Values Divide is a grand book; Chatham House--and the rest of us--are
fortunate to have it. John White's observations on Clinton missing the Cold War
and Bush's preference for unchallenged command have doubled force these
days." --Wilson Carey McWilliams, Rutgers University