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Worldview and Public Policy: from American Exceptionalism to American Empire

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Worldview and Public Policy: from American Exceptionalism to American Empire Worldview and Public Policy: From American Exceptionalism to American Empire A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at George Mason University By Wayne Lavender Masters of Arts Pacific School of Religion, 1985 Masters of Divinity Pacific School of Religion, 1983 Bachelor of Arts Drew University, 1980 Director: Mark Rozell School of Public Policy Fall Semester 2009 George Mason University Fairfax, VA Copyright 2009 Wayne Lavender All Rights Reserved ii DEDICATION According to the World Health Organization, an estimated ten million children die every year from the effects of extreme poverty. This amounts to an average of 26,000 per day. In the eight plus years since the tragic terrorist attack of 9-11-01 approximately 80 million children have died from preventable causes. Meanwhile, the United States, through its annual Department of Defense operating budget, Department of Homeland Security and ongoing War on Terror in Afghanistan and Iraq, spends over $1 trillion per year on military expenses. In the eight plus years since the tragic terrorist attack of 9-11-01 the US has spent approximately $8 trillion for the commodities of war. This dissertation is dedicated to the memory of the children who were never given a chance for life – those who died because their parents were caught in a poverty trap and were too poor to provide food, adequate shelter, potable water and health care; and because those of us who have resources were unwilling to share. May God have mercy on their souls. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS My experience at George Mason University has been better than I ever could have expected. The professors, courses and opportunities for growth have been incredible and I am grateful. Special thanks for my dissertation committee members: to chair Mark Rozell, who had help guide and shape my research and whose professionalism as a scholar is matched by his warmth as a friend; to Jack Goldstone, who has been with me since an orientation session on a cold December night in 2006 and who has always guided me with wisdom and great advice; to Martin Sherwin, who gave me a copy of his book A World Destroyed the first time we met and whose gentle, friendly manner disguises a brilliant mind and wonderful worldview; to Michael Vlahos, who has jumped in with both feet and whose pushing me enabled me to understand some of the elements this worldview offers that I otherwise would have missed. I would also like to take an opportunity to thank Jim Pfiffner – scholar and friend who, although not on my dissertation committee, has offered much help and leadership. To fellow students, my colleagues, who pushed and dragged me through 801 – Macro Policy, statistics, multi-variate regression analysis and micro-economics (among other subjects where I knew I was in over my head). I would not be here without your help and support. To Elizabeth Eck –Beth – assistant dean of the Graduate Program at GMU’s SPP, who has offered support, counseling, guidance and friendship since day one on this journey: I truly appreciate your strong presence, honesty, and ability to fight for what is right. And finally, to my soul mate, to my partner, to my inspiration and to my rock – Linda. You have helped me in more ways than you will ever know. For your countless hours reading drafts and offering suggestions, for your encouragement when I was lost, for your realistic moments when I was headed off into the clouds – I am more eternally grateful. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of Tables ................................................................................................................vii List of Figures ............................................................................................................. viii Abstract..........................................................................................................................ix Introduction...................................................................................................................1 Chapter 1 – Was ist Ein Weltanschauung?................................................................25 Definition of Worldview............................................................................................27 History of the Concept...............................................................................................33 Building Blocks of Worldview ..................................................................................42 A Clash of Worldviews .............................................................................................59 Conclusion ................................................................................................................62 Chapter 2: Worldview and Its Relationship to Public Policy ....................................67 What is Public Policy?...............................................................................................68 Political Philosophy...............................................................................................75 Economics.............................................................................................................78 Anthropology ........................................................................................................85 Sociology ..............................................................................................................93 Conclusion.............................................................................................................99 Chapter 3: Defining The Concepts of Dominant & Redemptive Violence..............103 Dominant.............................................................................................................103 Redemptive Violence...........................................................................................107 Conclusion...........................................................................................................114 Chapter 4: Research Question, Hypothesis, Methodology ......................................115 Research Question ...................................................................................................117 Hypothesis...............................................................................................................118 Methodology ...........................................................................................................118 Rationale for National and Regional Site Selection ..............................................133 Chapter 5 – Dissertation Data...................................................................................144 Quantitative.............................................................................................................145 War memorials, monuments and plaques .............................................................145 Peace Memorials, monuments and plaques ..........................................................153 Washington, District of Columbia........................................................................155 Celebration of MLK Birthday, Memorial Day, July 4 and Veteran’s Day.............160 v United States Flags in United Methodist Churches...............................................162 Coded Analysis of State Preambles......................................................................164 Content Analysis of State Approved US History Books: A Counting Matrix........166 Qualitative Data.......................................................................................................171 Targeted, Semi-Structured Interviews..................................................................171 An Analysis of the Standards and Frameworks for US History.............................176 Ethnographic .......................................................................................................178 Chapter 6: Analysis and Suggested Findings Based on the Research .....................197 Presence of Peace and War Memorials, Monuments and Plaques.............................200 Celebration of Martin Luther King’s Birthday, Memorial Day, July 4th and Veteran’s Day..........................................................................................................................202 US Flags within United Methodist Churches ...........................................................204 State Preambles .......................................................................................................207 US History Textbooks .............................................................................................208 Characteristics of the Dominant Worldview.............................................................210 Recessive Worldview ..............................................................................................217 Conclusion ..............................................................................................................220 Chapter 7: Policy Recommendations........................................................................223 Appendix A:...............................................................................................................247 Interview Instrument ...................................................................................................247 Appendix B:...............................................................................................................248 Preambles – State Constitutions...................................................................................248
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