Steven B. Smith, "Reclaiming Patriotism in an Age of Extremes" (Yale UP, 2021)

New Books in American Studies · Jun 8, 2021 · 1h 2m

In a time when questions about patriotism, nationalism, multiculturalism, and the like are sure to stir up controversy, Steven Smith offers a careful, balanced defense of what he calls “enlightened patriotism.” Smith, a professor of political science at Yale University, makes a point of distinguishing patriotism from nationalism; the latter, he writes, is most often based on a sense of grievance and is defensive in tone, while the former is a particular kind of loyalty, similar in some ways to the loyalty feels toward one’s family. In Reclaiming Patriotism in an Age of Extremes (Yale UP…