All in the Family: The Realignment of American Democracy Since the 1960s

In this extensively researched volume, Self, Brown associate professor of history (American Babylon), attempts to make sense of the shift in American politics and social movements from 1964 through 2004, from the “center-left social welfare polity” of the mid-20th century to the “center-right free market system” of the 21st century. There’s a heavy focus on gender and sexuality, covering everything from the women’s movement to abortion and antifeminism. He gives a great deal of attention to the in-your-face roles played by the various gay and lesbian factions as they came out of the closet and moved into politics and social change. At the core of each avenue of discussion is the exploration of how four decades of radical change affected the very concept of liberalism while allowing conservatives to gain strength. Any one of the topics Self covers would be enough to fill volumes on its own, and he may have overreached in trying to tie it all together. The material is as fascinating as the presentation is dry, and this compendium may overwhelm the casual reader. 8 pages of b&w illus. (Sept.)