Not by Politics Alone: The Enduring Influence of the Christian Right - Hardcover

"This is an enormously informative study of the Christian Right, written with great authority, and a measure of empathy as well. Diamond shows that the distinctive success of the Christian Right movement is owed to its diverse sources of organizational support, which has made possible an unusual strategic flexibility in fielding movement campaigns. But she also reveals the sources of strain and weakness that stem from the troubled marriage of the movement with the Republican party. This is a first-rate study of a hugely important contemporary movement." --Frances Fox Piven, coauthor of Why Americans Don't Vote "Sara Diamond demonstrates once again that she is one of the best researchers of right-wing movements in the United States. For those who naively believe that the soldiers of the Christian Right will eventually fade away, this book presents a nuanced and sophisticated exploration of the Christian Right's political activism and resiliency. It is a 'must read' for concerned citizens, activists, and academics." --Catherine A. Lugg, PhD, Assistant Professor of Education, Graduate School of Education, Rutgers--The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey ., ."this is a very informative book about the organization and motives of this tenacious movement. Highly recommended for academic libraries." --"Counterpoise" ""Not By Politics Alone" is an important book that anyone interested in the Christian Right and in social policy related to families and education will want to read....[Diamond makes] a major contribution in documenting and reporting the activities of the CR, and in offering informed and thoughtful suggestions about what to look for in the coming years....Diamonds's work...is less a warning to progressives of the "dangers" of the CR, and more a cautionary guide that challenges progressives and mainstream religious communities to reflect upon their own values and politics." --"The Review of Politics" ., ."provides an excellent survey and history of the central figures, organizations, and initiatives of the Christian Right." --"Choice" "Diamond's strength as a researcher is in the details. Through her careful case studies--of, among other subjects, home schooling, millennialism and antigay activism--you see the Christian Right blending its religious arguments with ones deployed by the secular elites they despise....Diamond is at her best in reminding us of the Christian Right's uneasy home within the Republican Party." --"The Nation" "This excellent book deserves wide readership." --"Americans For Religious Liberty Newsletter" "Scholarship with a point of view; a highly informative case study."--"Kirkus Reviews" ., ."offers an illuminating perspective on the nationwide proliferation of evangelical talk radio programs, publishing companies, bookstores, law firms, and music studios. Readers also gain a rare behind-the-scenes look at the formation, organizing strategies and sometimes heated internal debates o influential national organizations such as Operation Rescue, Focus on the Family, and the Christian Coalition...."Not by Politics Alone" is [an] exceptionally well research[ed], well written, and timely contribution to the study of contemporary American politics." --"Wisconsin Bookwatch" "The Christian Right's growth into a formidable social movement and political power over the last couple of decades has provoked alarm in many quarters. In this sweeping and well-documented survey of the movement, Diamond concludes that its survival is due to the diversity of its many subcultural institutions and to its links with the Republican Party....Like her "Roads to Dominion: Right-Wing Movements and Political Power in the United States", this is a balanced, eye-opening and accessible read." --"Publishers Weekly" "Opposing the Left's tendency to demonize the Christian Right, Diamond insists on taking it seriously, endeavoring to understand the sources of its strong appeal to millions of U.S. citizens." --"Booklist"

In this incisive work, Sara Diamond expands our understanding of the Christian Right beyond what is commonly known about its electoral clout, shedding light on the rarely seen boundaries and intersections where politics and culture converge. The book examines the web of grassroots cultural institutions, including publishing houses, law firms, broadcast stations, and church-centered community programs, that have helped conservative evangelical groups maintain their influence for over two decades. Highlighting the movement's complex alliance with the Republican Party, Diamond provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at the formation, organizing strategies, and heated internal debates of such powerful national organizations as Focus on the Family and the Christian Coalition. She offers a richly textured analysis of how the rubric of "family values" has been used to infuse evangelical beliefs into local and national discussions around such disparate issues as childrearing, gay rights, abortion, public education, and funding for the arts.