Everyday Life in the Modern World (Classics in Communication and Mass Culture (Paperback))

Peter Viereck, poet and historian, is one of the principle theoreticians of conservatism in modern American political thought. In this classic work, Viereck undertakes a penetrating and unorthodox analysis of that quintessential conservative, Prince Metternich, and offers evidence that cultural and political conservatism may perhaps be best adapted to sustain a free and reasonable society. According to Viereck's definition, conservatism is not the enemy of economic reform or social progress, nor is it the oppressive instrument of the privileged few. Although conservatism has been attacked from the left and often discredited by exploitation from the right, it remains the historic name for a point of view vital to contemporary society and culture. Divided into three parts, the book opens with a survey of conservatism in its cultural context of classicism and humanism. Rejecting the blind alley of reaction, Viereck calls for a discriminating set of principles that include preservation through reform, self-expression through self-restraint, a fruitful nostalgia for the permanent beneath the flux, and a preference for historical continuity over violent rupture. Viereck locates our idea of Western political unity in Metternich's Concert of Europe whose goal was a cosmopolitan Europe united in peace. This ideal was opposed by both the violent nationalism that resulted in Nazism and the socialist internationalism that became a tool of Soviet Russian expansionism. While not ignoring the extremely negative aspects of Metternich's legacy, Viereck focuses on his attempts to tame the bellicosity of European nationalism and his little-known efforts to reform and modernize the Hapsburg Empire. "When Lefebvre's book first appeared in the 1960s it was considered a manifesto for a social movement that focused on the quality of life experi-enced by the individual--by the com-mon man and woman. His emphasis on the quality of life will have even more appeal to those currently living with the problems of inflation, unem-ployment, and dwindling natural re-sources. Basing his discussions on everyday life in France, Lefebvre shows the de-gree to which our lived-in world and our sense of it are shaped by decisions about which we know little and in which we do not participate. He evaluates the achievements and shortcomings of applying variousphilosophical perspectives such as Marxism and Structuralism to daily life, studies the impact of con-sumerism on society, and looks at ef-fects on society of linguistic phenom-ena and various kinds of terrorism communicated through mass media. In his new introduction to this edi-tion, Philip Wander evaluates Lefebvre's ideas by relating many of them to current contexts. He discusses the political and economic aspects of daily life in the 1980s, the work envi-ronment, communications, and the world of science and technology."--Provided by publisher Peter Viereck, Poet And Historian, Is One Of The Principle Theoreticians Of Conservatism In Modern American Political Thought. In This Classic Work, Viereck Undertakes A Penetrating And Unorthodox Analysis Of That Quintessential Conservative, Prince Metternich, And Offers Evidence That Cultural And Political Conservatism May Perhaps Be Best Adapted To Sustain A Free And Reasonable Society.--jacket. Peter Viereck And Conservatism / Claes G. Ryn -- New Conservatism In The Age Of Anxiety -- Book 1 -- 1. Heritage Renewed : The Conservative Principles -- 2. Union Of Europe : Some History Lessons From Professor Metternich -- 3. Conservative Way To Freedom -- Book 2 -- 4. New Conservatism -- What Went Wrong? -- App. A. National Bolshevism (1949) -- App. B. Conservatism (1974). Peter Viereck ; With A Major New Study Of Peter Viereck And Conservatism By Claes G. Ryn. Originally Published: New York : Scribner, 1949. Includes Bibliographical References.

In her perceptive introduction to this Transaction edition, Irene Diggs sets this classic autobiography against its broad historical context and critically analyzes its theoretical and methodological significance. She explains the changes that occurred in DuBois' own attitudes and writings, tracing the development of his lifelong concern with the problem of race: how non-Whites might be openly and effectively admitted into the freedom of democracy.

"In her perceptive introduction to this edition, Irene Diggs sets this classic autobiography against its broad historical context and critically analyzes its theoretical and methodological significance."--Provided by publisher.