Civic Hope: How Ordinary Americans Keep Democracy Alive

Communication, Society and Politics

by Rodrick P. Hart

Civic Hope is a history of what everyday Americans say - in their own words - about the government overseeing their lives. Based on a highly original analysis of 10,000 letters to the editor from 1948 to the present published in twelve US cities, the book overcomes the limitations of survey data by revealing the reasons for people's attitudes. While Hart identifies worrisome trends - including a decline in writers' abilities to explain what their opponents believe and their attachment to national touchstones - he also shows why the nation still thrives. Civic Hope makes a powerful case that the vitality of a democracy lies not in its strengths but in its weaknesses and in the willingness of its people to address those weaknesses without surcease. The key, Hart argues, is to sustain a culture of argument at the grassroots level.

370 pages, Hardcover

Published March 22, 2018

Reviews

[Rob]

Have you ever been reading a newspaper article online, then clicked on the comment section and several minutes later realized you were still wandering the maze of the interesting, ridiculous, frustrating, and head-scratching comments that fellow readers had taken the time to write? We can often learn a lot from our fellow readers, and being part of the argument and debate (even if we're just reading) helps to undergird what Hart calls "civic hope," which he maintains is crucial to the health of our democracy.

However, firing off an electronic comment is not nearly the same kind of psychic investment in "civic hope" as writing a letter to the editor, and in this ambitious book, Hart relies on over 10,000 letters to the editor published in 12 medium-sized city newspapers between 1948 and 2012. He finds some worrisome trends, including the declining ability of writers to articulate their opponents' beliefs, but a consistent leitmotif is an abiding thematic attention to a set of expectations that he maintains define what civic hope is. These beliefs are 1) enlighted leadership is possible, 2) cultural pluralism is a key to productive citizenship, 3) democratic traditions will yield prudent governance, and 4) none of this will happen without constant struggle.

The key, according to Hart, is to "sustain a culture of argument at the grassroots level." Letter writers (and comment makers) help us do exactly that.

[Quratulain]

Good

[David McClendon, Sr]

From time to time we are sent a book to review that causes us to slow down and really get into the book. Civic Hope is one of those books.

Civic Hope would really make great additional reading for classes in many subjects like Journalism, Political Science, Anthropology, Sociology, and more. It isn’t one of those dry reads you get in many classes. You know the kind that makes you want to poke your eye out with a rusty fork? It is very interesting and entertaining.

Hart gives his readers a lot to think about and ponder as he compares and contrasts over 10,000 letters to the editor from newspapers in 12 different cities across the United States. These letters date back to the early days of the Twentieth Century up until 2012. He does throw in a few newer and older letters as well.

If one is a student of the human animal, in any way, he will find Civic Hope to be very interesting. It is very well-written and thoroughly researched. We give it all five stars.


We were sent a complimentary copy of this book. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.