Loyalty in America

Loyalty in America delves into the complex and multifaceted nature of political loyalty, examining its psychological, sociological, and historical dimensions within the context of American political life. The book explores how loyalty, often praised as a virtue and weaponized as a political tool, has evolved and been contested throughout U.S. history, with a particular focus on the federal loyalty programs and investigations into "un-American" activities. By tracing the historical development of loyalty, analyzing its conceptual foundations, and critiquing its application in contemporary politics, the study bridges traditional political philosophy with modern analytical methods. This comprehensive inquiry highlights the tensions between loyalty as a moral ideal and its practical use in governance, offering a thought-provoking synthesis of ideas, events, and their implications for the American political community. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1957.