American Citizenship: The Quest for Inclusion

by Judith N. Shklar

Book Overview

In this illuminating look at what constitutes American citizenship, Judith Shklar identifies the right to vote and the right to work as the defining social rights and primary sources of public respect. She demonstrates that in recent years, although all profess their devotion to the work ethic, earning remains unavailable to many who feel and are consequently treated as less than full citizens.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0674022165
• ISBN13: 9780674022164
• Release Date: August 1998
• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Length: 134 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Interesting

To Judith Shklar, among all the compnents of citizenship, there are two that are most important - the right to vote, and the right to earn. In regards to the former, in her mind, the act of voting is much less important than having the right to vote, a belief starkly contrasted by Tocqueville. By earning, she means being remunerated for labor. She says that by this definition, aristocrats and beggars cannot be true citizens because they to not earn based upon their own labor; artistocrats - based upon the efforts of others, and beggars - based upon handouts from the money of others. At times, her point is very hard to find, and at other times it seems like she just goes on and on. But overall, I know more for having read it.