Cultures at War explains the rise and impact of moral conflicts on the recent political life of western democracies. Smith and Tatalovich conceptualize all moral conflicts as clashes between egalitarian and hierarchical forces. At their core, moral conflicts are debates over "identity" and the status of various groups in society. The book is organized around the "stages" of the policy process, especially agenda-setting and adoption. How the policy process is affected by moral debate is analyzed through numerous case studies drawn mainly from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Central to the entire analysis are three moral conflicts-capital punishment, homosexuality, and abortion-though others, for example gun control, euthanasia, and fox hunting, are included to illustrate specific points.
- ISBN10 1551113341
- ISBN13 9781551113340
- Publish Date 1 January 2003
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Broadview Press Ltd
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Pages 304
- Language English