The Democratic Virtues of the Christian Right by Jon A. Shields

Abstract

Jon A. Shields’ The Democratic Virtues of the Christian Right challenges conventional assumptions about the role of the Christian Right in American politics. The book argues that the movement has adopted democratic practices pioneered by the New Left, particularly in mobilizing voters around deeply held convictions. Shields contends that the Christian Right engages in deliberative democracy—characterized by civility, dialogue, moral reasoning, and openness to alternative viewpoints—contrary to mainstream media portrayals of the group as intolerant or extremist. He asserts that today’s liberals often defend conservative positions, such as Roe v. Wade, while pro-life activists frame their cause as a 'revolutionary struggle for civil rights.' Shields’ central claim is that the Christian Right contributes positively to American democracy through its grassroots organizing and adherence to democratic norms. The book employs a mixed-methods approach, combining sociological and political science theories with ethnographic fieldwork, including training seminars, newsletters, interviews, and organizational documents. While the review praises Shields’ methodical approach, it does not critically assess the book’s limitations or potential biases.

(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)