America's Crisis of Values

"This is an indispensable book to understanding the transformation of American culture on the basis of solid evidence and rigorous methodology. It demonstrates the usefulness of social science to clarify the fundamental debates, which have been obscured by ideology and prejudice. It should be required reading in universities around the world."--Manuel Castells, Professor of Communication and Wallis Annenberg Chair in Communication Technology and Society, University of Southern California

"This is by far the most complete and comprehensive empirical examination of the topic. A significant contribution to the field."--John H. Evans, University of California, San Diego

""America's Crisis of Values" is the most sophisticated account we have of opinion and value polarization in cross-national perspective. Clear, accessible, and loaded with evidence, it makes a uniquely valuable contribution by placing the U.S. case in a much broader context; distinguishing polarization of values from polarization of policy preferences (and demonstrating how surprisingly weak is the link between the two); and by showing where each has been growing or declining around the world. This book is required reading for any social scientist concerned with the "culture wasr" and the issues surrounding themt."--Paul DiMaggio, Princeton University

"Amid continuing speculation about culture wars and an erosion of traditional values, Wayne Baker has produced a valuable study grounded in an extensive examination of empirical data. Optimists and pessimists alike should read this book carefully--for both will find surprises that challenge their preconceived ideas."--Robert Wuthnow, Princeton University