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Monday, July 6, 2009
 
 
EVENTS
Understanding America: The Anatomy of an Exceptional Nation
Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Time: 9:30 AM — 1:30 PM
Location: Wohlstetter Conference Center, Twelfth Floor, AEI 1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036
 
 
About This Event

As the world’s sole remaining superpower, its most celebrated democracy, and the wellspring of an increasingly globalized popular culture, the United States of America excites fear, envy, and interest which are rarely matched by understanding. America is often said to be deeply divided, witlessly vulgar, religiously orthodox, militarily aggressive, economically savage, and ungenerous to those in need, while maintaining a political stability, a standard of living, and a love of country that is the envy of the world–all at the same time.

With America perplexing so many at home, as well as abroad, Peter Schuck of Yale Law School and James Q. Wilson of AEI’s Council of Academic Advisers have brought together leading experts from across the social sciences to assemble an authoritative and accessible single-volume account, using international comparisons of the exceptional nature of American cultures, institutions and public policies. Please join us for the launch of Understanding America: The Anatomy of an Exceptional Nation (PublicAffairs, 2008) and a discussion of this wide-ranging and profound survey of American society.

 
Agenda
8:15 a.m. 
Registration and Breakfast
 
 
 
 
8:30  
Welcome:  
Christopher DeMuth, AEI
 
 
 
 
Introduction
Peter Schuck, Yale Law School
 
 
James Q. Wilson, AEI and Pepperdine University
 
 
 
9:15  
Panel I
 
 
 
 
 
Presenters
Martha Bayles, Boston College
 
 
Orlando Patterson, Harvard University
 
 
Linda Waite, University of Chicago
 
 
 
 
Discussant
Michael Novak, AEI
 
 
 
 
Moderator
James Q. Wilson, AEI and Pepperdine University
 
 
 
11:00  
Panel II
 
 
 
 
 
Presenters
Arthur C. Brooks, AEI and Syracuse University
 
 
James Q. Wilson, AEI and Pepperdine University
 
 
 
 
Discussant
Christopher DeMuth, AEI
 
 
 
 
Moderator
Peter Schuck, Yale Law School
 
 
 
12:30 p.m.
Adjournment
 
 
 
Event Materials
 
Event Summary
 
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