The Values Divide: American Politics and Culture in Transition

Author John Kenneth White discussed his book The Values Divide: American Politics and Culture in Transition, published by Chatham House Publishers. Professor White noted that American values had evolved and changed over the last century, while having played an increasingly influential role in public and private life. He concluded from his data that people were reexamining their standards, which included how they worked, lived, and interacted with each other in a country whose population was rapidly changing. This reassessment raised questions concerning what it meant to be American. The book explored the political ramifications of the “values divide” which, according to Mr. White, went much deeper than cultural conflicts between Republicans and Democrats. After his presentation, Mr. White answered questions from members of the audience. close