New Books in Political Science

James Davison Hunter, "Democracy and Solidarity: On the Cultural Roots of America's Political Crisis" (Yale UP, 2024)

Apr 11, 2025

James Davison Hunter, LeBras Levinson Distinguished Professor of Religion, Culture, and Social Theory at the University of Virginia, dives into the disintegration of America’s cultural solidarity. He discusses how historical ideals of freedom and justice have remained unrealized, leading to deepening political polarization. Hunter addresses the shift from economic issues to cultural conflicts, emphasizing the rise of nihilism and challenges to democracy. With a thought-provoking focus on the need for new cultural resources, he ponders the future viability of liberal democracy in a fractured society.

38:43

Episode guests

James Davison Hunter

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Quick takeaways

America's political crisis is rooted in cultural divisions rather than economic factors, highlighting the importance of shared values and narratives in fostering unity.

Reviving national myths that resonate across demographics is essential for restoring solidarity and combating the extremes dominating current political discourse.

Deep dives

Cultural Roots of America's Political Crisis

The podcast delves into the thesis that America's current political crisis roots back to cultural divisions rather than solely economic or political factors. Historically, political tensions were largely defined by economic interests, such as labor versus corporate management. However, by the late 20th century, the focus shifted to conflicts over cultural issues like abortion, gender roles, and immigration, which reflected deeper cultural meanings connected to institutions and the identity of America itself. The emergence of shared values among conservative religious groups from varied backgrounds further indicates that cultural authority and shared traditions significantly influence the current socio-political landscape.

Intro

2min

Cultural Conflicts and Political Polarization

18min

The Evolution of American Democracy and the Crisis of Solidarity

6min

Nihilism and Democracy: Seeking Cultural Unity

10min

Building a Counterpublic: Long-Term Challenges and Insights

2min

Liberal democracy in America has always contained contradictions—most notably, a noble but abstract commitment to freedom, justice, and equality that, tragically, has seldom been realized in practice. While these contradictions have caused dissent and even violence, there was always an underlying and evolving solidarity drawn from the cultural resources of America’s “hybrid Enlightenment.”

James Davison Hunter, who introduced the concept of “culture wars” thirty years ago, tells us in Democracy and Solidarity: On the Cultural Roots of America's Political Crisis (Yale UP, 2024) that those historic sources of national solidarity have now largely dissolved. While a deepening political polarization is the most obvious sign of this, the true problem is not polarization per se but the absence of cultural resources to work through what divides us. The destructive logic that has filled the void only makes bridging our differences more challenging. In the end, all political regimes require some level of unity. If it cannot be generated organically, it will be imposed by force.

Can America’s political crisis be fixed? Can an Enlightenment-era institution—liberal democracy—survive and thrive in a post-Enlightenment world? If, for some, salvaging the older sources of national solidarity is neither possible sociologically, nor desirable politically or ethically, what cultural resources will support liberal democracy in the future?

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