Evaluating the Legitimacy of the American Foundation Myth
Аннотация
This article aims to discuss the reasons and consequences of the recent historical monuments’ destruction in the United States. The author uses the concept of Foundation myths as well as opinion polls’ results and cases from modern history to provide argumentation for the idea of ongoing polarization in American society. The results show that, although the political elites are relatively united on the issue of historical memory, there is a certain division among ordinary citizens. The causes for the recent attacks on the monuments and the historical figures they represent lies in the crisis, caused by the COVID-pandemic, economic downturn and protests over racism. However, the fundamental reason lies in the chronic socio-economic, cultural, and political difficulties, particularly income inequality, political polarization of elites and mass publics of American society. In the conclusion of the article, the author discusses how the discourse over historical figures and foundation myths shaped 2020 Presidential elections in the US and how specific agenda related to Founding Fathers was used by the US President Donald Trump during his campaign.
For citation: Sherlock, T. (2020). Evaluating the Legitimacy of the American Foundation Myth. Tempus et Memoria, 1, 1–2, 76–81.
Submitted: 30.10.2020
Accepted: 02.12.2020
Ключевые слова
Литература
68 % Say Discrimination Against Black Americans A «Serious Problem,» Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds;
Slight Majority Support Removing Confederate Statues. URL: https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=3663
(mode of access: 01.10.2020).
All results are for release after 9AM/ET Sunday, July 19, 2020 // Foxnews. URL: https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/
content/uploads/2020/07/Fox_July-12-15-2020_Complete_National_Topline_July-19-Release.pdf (mode of access: 01.10.2020).
Almond, G., Verba, S. (1963). Civic Culture: Political Attitudes and Democracy in Five Nations. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
And Strong majority of voters oppose tearing down statues honoring Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln. URL: https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/polling/strong-majority-voters-oppose-tearing-down-statues-honoring-washington (mode
of access: 01.10.2020).
Executive Order on Protecting American Monuments, Memorials, and Statues and Combating Recent Criminal Violence. URL: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-protecting-american-monuments-memorials-statuescombating-recent-criminal-violence/ (mode of access: 01.10.2020).
Foa, R. S., Mounk, Y. (2017, January). The Signs of Deconsolidation. Journal of Democracy, 28, 1, 5–15.
Huntington, S. (2005). Who Are We? The Challenges to America’s National Identity. New York: Simon and Schuster.
JTN Poll Crosstabs. URL: https://justthenews.com/sites/default/files/2020-06/2020-06-22%20JTN%20POLL%20CROSSTABS_0.pdf (mode of access: 01.10.2020).
Moore, B. (1965). Soviet Politics—The Dilemma of Power. The Role of Ideas in Social Change. New York: Harper Torchbooks.
Norris, P. (2016). Is Western Democracy Backsliding? Diagnosing the Risks. URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2933655 (mode of access: 01.10.2020).
Packer, G. (2020). The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux
Remarks by President Trump at South Dakota’s 2020 Mount Rushmore Fireworks Celebration | Keystone, South Dakota.
URL: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-south-dakotas-2020-mount-rushmorefireworks-celebration-keystone-south-dakota/ (mode of access: 01.10.2020).
Sherlock, T. (2014). Historical Narratives in the Soviet Union and Post-Soviet Russia. New York: Palgrave.
Taylor, P. (2016). The Next America: Boomers, Millennials, and the Looming Generational Showdown. New York: Public
Affairs.
Wuthnow, R. (2016). The Left Behind: Decline and Rage in Small-Town America. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Ссылки
- На текущий момент ссылки отсутствуют.
(c) 2020 Thomas Sherlock