Title Intimate strangers : foreign intellectuals and American political discourse / Andreea Deciu Ritivoi

Published New York : Columbia University Press, 2014

Click on the following:
ProQuest Ebook Central

Copies

Description 1 online resource Contents The stranger persona -- Hannah Arendt : the thinker and the American republic -- Herbert Marcuse's German revolution in America -- Cold war prophesies : Alexander Solzhenitsyn and mythological America -- Edward Said and the clash of identities -- Conclusion : friendship with strangers Summary Hannah Arendt, Herbert Marcuse, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, and Edward Said each steered major intellectual and political schools of thought in American political discourse after World War II, yet none of them was American, which proved crucial to their ways of arguing and reasoning both in and out of the American context. In an effort to convince their audiences they were American enough, these thinkers deployed deft rhetorical strategies that made their cosmopolitanism feel acceptable, inspiring radical new approaches to longstanding problems in American politics. Speaking like natives, they also exploited their foreignness to entice listeners to embrace alternative modes of thought. Intimate Strangers unpacks this "stranger ethos," a blend of detachment and involvement that manifested in the persona of a prophet for Solzhenitsyn, an impartial observer for Arendt, a mentor for Marcuse, and a victim for Said. Yet despite its many successes, the stranger ethos did alienate many audiences, and critics continue to dismiss these thinkers not for their positions but because of their foreign point of view. This book encourages readers to reject this kind of critical xenophobia, throwing support behind a political discourse that accounts for the ideals of citizens and noncitizens alike Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index Notes Print version record Subject Arendt, Hannah, 1906-1975 -- Influence Marcuse, Herbert, 1898-1979 -- Influence Solzhenit︠s︡yn, Aleksandr Isaevich, 1918-2008 -- Influence Said, Edward W. -- Influence SUBJECT Arendt, Hannah, 1906-1975 fast Marcuse, Herbert, 1898-1979 fast Said, Edward W. fast Solzhenit︠s︡yn, Aleksandr Isaevich, 1918-2008 fast Subject Politics and culture -- United States -- History -- 20th century Intellectuals -- United States -- History -- 20th century Rhetoric -- Political aspects -- United States -- History -- 20th century POLITICAL SCIENCE -- Essays. POLITICAL SCIENCE -- Government -- General. POLITICAL SCIENCE -- Government -- National. POLITICAL SCIENCE -- Reference. Influence (Literary, artistic, etc.) Intellectual life Intellectuals Politics and culture Rhetoric -- Political aspects SUBJECT United States -- Intellectual life -- 20th century. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85140367 Subject United States Genre/Form History Form Electronic book ISBN 9780231537919 0231537913

  Permalink