The New American Social Compact

Rights and Responsibilities in the Twenty-first Century

By (author) Jane A. Grant

Publication date:

28 February 2008

Length of book:

180 pages

Publisher

Lexington Books

ISBN-13: 9780739119754

The New American Social Compact examines the need to redefine the social compact in twenty-first-century America. Grant explores the two components of this compact—the rights and obligations of citizenship—as well as what she sees as the four substantive areas that are critical to realizing a new social compact in America. Grant proposes a new social compact that would honor the expansion of civil, political, and social rights in America and would integrate these rights within a new civic procedural ethos, clarifying our obligations to each other, future generations, other nations, and other species.

Part 1 Acknowledgments
Chapter 2 The American Social Compact: Past, Present, and Future Considerations
Chapter 3 Components of the Compact: Social Security, Health Care, and the Meaning of Social Rights
Chapter 4 Lesbian and Gay Equality: The Quest for Civil, Political, and Social Rights
Chapter 5 A Sustainable Environment and Responsible Economy: Obligations to Other Persons, Future Generations, Other Nations, and Other Species
Chapter 6 Co-operation and Global Security: Frameworks and Responsibilities in an Interconnected World
Chapter 7 The New American Social Compact: The Role of Democratic Deliberation, Social and Political Movements, and Ethical and Accountable Leaders

Jane Grant takes up the vital issue of our young century: what should be the set of rights and responsibilities that we owe each other as fellow citizens? At a time of heightened worry about challenges both domestic and foreign, Grant intelligently opens up a welcome and overdue discussion.