Revival and Reaction: The Right in Contemporary America

Abstract

The election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 and re-election in 1984 reflect the revival of American right-wing activity begun in the 1970s. This book is a critical analysis of the various components of the contemporary American and is the first to provide an overview of recent research on the subject. Examining the meaning of such terms as neo-conservative, new right, and religious right, Peele traces the growth of these movements and the links between them since the 1970s, and assesses the influence of right-wing activity on American policy under the Reagan administration.