American Society and Politics is an edited collection of readings offering a unique combination of institutional, historical, and theoretical perspectives on U.S. political institutions and public policymaking, and on the social groups and movements that have participated in modern American national politics. Cutting across disciplinary boundaries, this volume brings together important articles by prominent political sociologists, political scientists, and historians. It may be used as a primary or supplementary text for advanced undergraduates or entry-level graduate students in departments of sociology, political science and history. Articles are arranged into four parts: I: Thinking About Politics in the Unites States and Beyond; II: The Development of the National Policy; III: contemporary Movements for Social and Political Change; and IV: The Politics of Public Policymaking. The editors introduce each group of readings with a thoughtful essay. These introductions orient students to the key themes and issues, alert them to explicit or implicit debates among the articles in that section, and point out connections among articles across the various sections. Read Less