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We Must Not Be Enemies

Restoring America's Civic Tradition

Michael Austin

At the end of his first inaugural address, delivered to a nation deeply divided and on the brink of civil war, Abraham Lincoln concluded, “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies.” Lincoln’s words ring true today, especially for a new generation raised on political discourse that consists of vitriolic social media and the echo chambers of polarized news media.

In We Must Not Be Enemies, Michael Austin combines American history, classical theories of democracy, and cognitive psychology to argue that the health of our democracy depends on our ability to disagree about important things while remaining friends. He argues that individual citizens can dramatically improve the quality of our democracy by changing the way that we interact with one another. Each of his main chapters advances a single argument, supported by contemporary evidence and drawing on lessons from American history. The seven arguments at the heart of the book are:

1. We need to learn how to be better friends with people we disagree with.
2. We should disagree more with people we already consider our friends.
3. We should argue for things and not just against things.
4. We have a moral responsibility to try to persuade other people to adopt positions that we consider morally important.
5. We have to understand what constitutes a good argument if we want to do more than shout at people and call them names.
6. We must realize that we are wrong about a lot of things that we think we are right about.
7. We should treat people with charity and kindness, not out of a sense of moral duty (though that’s OK too), but because these are good rhetorical strategies in a democratic society.

For anyone disturbed by the increasingly coarse and confrontational tone of too much of our political dialogue, We Must Not Be Enemies provides an essential starting point to restore the values that have provided the foundation for America’s tradition of democratic persuasion.

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 232 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9¼

978-1-5381-2125-2 • Hardback • May 2019 • $40.00 • (£31.00)

978-1-5381-2126-9 • eBook • May 2019 • $38.00 • (£29.00)

Subjects: Political Science / Civics & Citizenship, History / United States / General, Language Arts & Disciplines / Communication Studies

We Must Not Be Enemies

Restoring America's Civic Tradition

Hardback

eBook

Summary

At the end of his first inaugural address, delivered to a nation deeply divided and on the brink of civil war, Abraham Lincoln concluded, “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies.” Lincoln’s words ring true today, especially for a new generation raised on political discourse that consists of vitriolic social media and the echo chambers of polarized news media.

In We Must Not Be Enemies, Michael Austin combines American history, classical theories of democracy, and cognitive psychology to argue that the health of our democracy depends on our ability to disagree about important things while remaining friends. He argues that individual citizens can dramatically improve the quality of our democracy by changing the way that we interact with one another. Each of his main chapters advances a single argument, supported by contemporary evidence and drawing on lessons from American history. The seven arguments at the heart of the book are:

1. We need to learn how to be better friends with people we disagree with.
2. We should disagree more with people we already consider our friends.
3. We should argue for things and not just against things.
4. We have a moral responsibility to try to persuade other people to adopt positions that we consider morally important.
5. We have to understand what constitutes a good argument if we want to do more than shout at people and call them names.
6. We must realize that we are wrong about a lot of things that we think we are right about.
7. We should treat people with charity and kindness, not out of a sense of moral duty (though that’s OK too), but because these are good rhetorical strategies in a democratic society.

For anyone disturbed by the increasingly coarse and confrontational tone of too much of our political dialogue, We Must Not Be Enemies provides an essential starting point to restore the values that have provided the foundation for America’s tradition of democratic persuasion.

Details

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 232 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9¼

978-1-5381-2125-2 • Hardback • May 2019 • $40.00 • (£31.00)

978-1-5381-2126-9 • eBook • May 2019 • $38.00 • (£29.00)

Subjects: Political Science / Civics & Citizenship, History / United States / General, Language Arts & Disciplines / Communication Studies

Author

Michael Austin is a former Professor of English who currently serves as the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Evansville in Indiana. He is the author of three previous books written for non-academic and academic audiences.

Table of Contents

Preface
Chapter 1: “the Height to Be Superb Humanity”
Chapter 2: “The Apprenticeship of Liberty”
Chapter 3: “We Are Not Enemies, but Friends
Chapter 4: Parties and Political Tribes
Chapter 5: The Great American Outrage Machine
Chapter 6: The Other Opposite of Friendship
Chapter 7: The Majesty of Persuasion
Chapter 8: Agreeing to Disagree
Chapter 9: “Think It Possible You May Be Mistaken”
Chapter 10: The Vision and the Dream
Appendix A: James Madison, Federalist #10
Appendix B: John Quincy Adams, Lectures on Rhetoric and Oratory
Appendix C: Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America
Appendix D: Abraham Lincoln, First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1861
Appendix E: Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Reviews

Austin (University of Evansville, Indiana), who is known for his bestselling textbook Reading the World: Ideas That Matter, discusses how to restore America’s civic tradition in a time of acute political confrontation. His main objective is to convince readers that the quality of democracy can be improved if citizens stop seeing people with different political views as enemies and if they learn how to disagree while still remaining friends. Each of 10 chapters advances a single argument, e.g., that democracy is a culture to be learned, not a natural predisposition, and that political parties we don’t agree with are also an important part of the system and should be protected. In addition to the author’s arguments, the book presents five appendixes with views on the same subject of some of the former American presidents, such as James Madison, John Quincy Adams, and Abraham Lincoln, as well as prominent thinkers such as Alexis de Tocqueville. Methodologically, the book combines as building blocks historic narratives, classical theories of democracy, and cognitive psychology. The author does not make abundant use of specific terms, which makes the book accessible to a large audience, both academic and non-academic.
— Choice Reviews

The book’s title comes from the final paragraph of Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address (1861), written at perhaps our nation’s most divided time in history. Austin looks at the “hard work” of democracy in ten chapters structured like a college class, taking readers first through the obligations of living in a democracy [then looking] back on the origins of democracy in ancient Greece.
— The Progressive

“In this masterful book, Michael Austin refutes the popular idea that today, with its political and social polarization, is an unprecedented moment in history. Far from being unique, this apparently unbridgeable chasm is normal. What is unique, though, is our inability to productively engage with, and argue against, those with whom we disagree. Without this type of argument and engagement, we risk losing everything our democracy has built over the last two and a half centuries. Far from being a doomsday tract, though, We Must Not Be Enemies is an optimistic, hopeful book. Generously illustrated with examples from history and literature, from philosophy and psychology, Austin shows us how we can bridge the ideological gaps we face, and why we must if we want to maintain the democracy we have. We Must Not Be Enemies is essential reading for anybody who wants to understand our democracy or engage in it.”
— Samuel D. Brunson, Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Author of God and the IRS: Accommodating Religious Practice in United States Tax Law

“As Austin notes, 'One of the foundational assumptions of this book is that human beings can change their minds and their behavior in response to other human beings.' Throughout, we are reminded that democracy is not a default position for societies and that it takes work. He reminds us, through the retelling of significant moments in American history, that democracy is filled with serious disagreements and that we need to find ways to work through those inevitable (and desirable) realities. People shouldn’t abandon principles simply to be polite; yet, we do need to see a way forward through uncomfortable conversations. This book will be useful to anyone concerned about the state of our civic life and how they might actually do something to alter its course in a constructive way. I highly recommend it for those looking to be reminded of where we’ve come from as well as to those who have never thought about public discourse, civic life, or how to be more than simply an observer to democracy. Indeed, we need many more people engaging across difference and maybe, just maybe, changing their minds in the process."
— Timothy J. Shaffer, Kansas State University

“Aristotle suggested that citizenship is a form of friendship. But what happens when civic comity shatters and citizens begin to view one another as enemies? The United States has entered a period in which this appears to be happening, with the country divided, and becoming more divided every year. How did we get here? And how might we right our course? Michael Austin is a thoughtful and considerate guide to these crucially important questions. America would be better off if we followed his lead and listened to his counsel.”
— Damon Linker, senior correspondent, The Week

We Must Not Be Enemies

Restoring America's Civic Tradition

Michael Austin

We Must Not Be Enemies

Restoring America's Civic Tradition

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