Why is America’s center of gravity to the right of Europe’s? Why are the American citizens so much more religious than are European citizens? How did the Republican party succeed in uniting libertarians, social conservatives, free-market businessmen and religious reactionaries under one platform?
“The Right Nation” (by J. Micklethwait & A. Wooldridge) is both a portrait and an argument. The portrait is an objective picture of Conservative America – The Right Nation. The coming election will be a referendum on George W. Bush – a president who epitomises this movement. “The Right Nation” explains how a creed which only 50 years ago was regarded as an eccentric sect has now become a dominant ideology. It goes inside the Bush administration, and introduces the strategists and intellectuals in Washington, DC; but it also describes the footsoldiers out in the country – gun enthusiasts in Seattle, home schoolers in Virginia, black voucher advocates in Milwaukee.
The argument is that this conservatism explains why America is so different from other rich countries. Not only has America produced a far more potent conservative movement from anything available in other rich countries; it is also on balance a more conservative place – with different values and different priorities to Europe. (from the book’s website)
If you are even remotely interested in American politics, this is a book you do not want to miss.

Buy the book at amazon.com, or visit the book’s website for more information.