Michael Harrington: Speaking American

Michael Harringtonis the first complete study of this popular author and activist (1928-1989). In this provocative biographical portrait, Robert A. Gorman examines the political and intellectual life of this engaging radical thinker while looking ahead to the ways in which the work and example he has left us can affect political life in the twenty-first century. Michael Harrington is certainly America's preeminent Yankee Radical and this volume carefully examines his ideas about socialist and liberal concepts, compares and contrasts his thinking about the Old and New Lefts, presents his innovative synthesis for a new socialism, and speculates about democratic socialism's role in a perplexing post-communist world where even victorious nations are in economic trouble. Michael Harrington's major attempt to Americanize socialism plays a big part in Gorman's analysis.Michael Harringtontells readers how it is possible to be both radicalandpatriotic and how an unjust system can be transformed without being destroyed. Harrington's patriotic message of renewal, hope, and change--what he called a "New Socialism"--will appeal to a broad segment of U.S. workers, intellectuals, bureaucrats, and activists.Michael Harringtonvividly brings Harrington's brilliant vision to life in an era when innovative yet practical ideas are desparately needed.