The Battle for America

The Tea Party and Occupy--two large, volatile, and diverse movements that have captured significant political space in recent years--illustrate both the high aspirations Americans have for their government and the deep disappointments they feel in it. These movements offer contrasting visions of America's past and, more importantly, its future. Opposing but nonetheless engaging mainstream politics, the Tea Party and Occupy have adopted different strategies for trying to realize their...
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The Tea Party and Occupy--two large, volatile, and diverse movements that have captured significant political space in recent years--illustrate both the high aspirations Americans have for their government and the deep disappointments they feel in it. These movements offer contrasting visions of America's past and, more importantly, its future. Opposing but nonetheless engaging mainstream politics, the Tea Party and Occupy have adopted different strategies for trying to realize their distinct visions of the American Dream. This book focuses on the time between the election of Barack Obama in 2008 and his attempted reelection in November 2012. Meyer claims that protest politics, represented by both the Tea Party and Occupy, respond to--and influence--politics in mainstream political institutions. The Battle for America tells the stories of two emblematic movements, shows how each relates to mainstream politics and policy, and examines the way that protest politics of any era shape the greater political milieu in which they operate.