OUR NEW CULTURAL DETERMINISM.

Steigerwald, David

This article addresses the evolution of cultural determinism in the U.S. The philosophical materialism that underpinned a century of Marxism and evolved into economic determinism has given way to a cultural determinism every bit as dogmatic as the old hardcore communism. In the U.S., if not throughout the developed world, this cultural determinism has trickled down from the intellectuals and now assumes the position of common sense. It is astonishing to contemplate the breadth and frequency of the appeal to culture. It hardly takes a ready ear or wide reading to turn up instances of culture's invocation. It was told that U.S. politics runs on the intensity of the culture wars, because the legislative and electoral life of the nation is consumed in cultural politics.

UNITED States; CULTURE; SOCIAL change; POLITICS & culture; POLITICAL culture; UNITED States politics & government

Society, 2005, Vol 42, Issue 2, p71

0147-2011

Academic Journal

10.1007/BF02687402