Making the Progressive Case

This title presents the conservative and liberal arguments related to the current economic issues faced by the Obama administration, including market regulation and green economy. At a time of tea parties and rallies to restore sanity, the political debate in America has become nothing more than a shouting match of various soundbites. This book offers a refreshing change by introducing both conservative arguments and liberal responses in a dispassionate and clear manner. Focusing on the issues that ail the economy under the Obama administration and their possible remedies, the book offers substantiated facts and rational arguments on each side, to promote true debate. Chapters on Obama's response to the financial crisis, regulated market, green economy, need for reform and more offer a true assessment of the problems at hand and propose a progressive alternative to each of the key issues, from foreclosures to entitlement reform. In addition, two appendices provide additional, in-depth information on the roots of the crisis and an economics primer accessible to the lay person.An engaging read, "Making the Progressive Case" will appeal to anyone interested in America's politics and economic future, and will help us move beyond the partisan quagmire to bring forth political change.

"In this elegantly-written book, and its accompanying website, David Coates succeeds, where other progressives have largely failed, in moving beyond stridency and and name-calling to make the strongest possible case for a better future for America. In a clear and balanced manner, Coates carefully summarizes conservative arguments before demolishing them through the deployment of the best available social science. This book is an indispensable resource for progressives who believe that winning the argument is a precondition for winning power." -Chris Howell, Professor of Politics, Oberlin College, "Perhaps no U.S.-based scholar is better equipped and more able to "Make the Progressive Case" than David Coates. Convincingly arguing in favor of regulated markets, managed trade, and a green economy, Coates offers a superior liberal alternative economic model to the emerging center-right consensus in the U.S., after the Tea Party revolt in November 2010. His book is a genuine tour de force and should be read by anyone worried about the future of the American economy and the revival of the American dream. Superbly written, with genuine wit and scholarly sophistication, this book could not be more important and timely. Making the Progressive Case underscores Coates' credentials as one of America's greatest political economic thinkers, as he lays the intellectual groundwork for a persuasive liberal answer during the 2012 presidential elections." -Matthias Matthijs, Assistant Professor of International Political Economy, American University, Washington DC., Author articles in The Blog and huffingtonpost.com

David Coates holds the Worrell Chair of Anglo-American Studies, Department of Political Science at Wake Forest University, USA. He previously held personal chairs at the universities of Leeds and Manchester, UK. He has written extensively on labor politics, contemporary political economy, and US public policy.