The Democratic Gap ─ Transcultural Confrontations of German Immigrants and the Promise of American Democracy

Mehring investigates what he calls "the democratic gap"—the discrepancy between democratic ideals and practices—and demonstrates the concept by recounting the experiences of German intellectual and artistic immigrants of the United States. The author contrasts the German cultural imaginary regarding an idealized American democratic society (in which civil liberties, justice, and political equality reign supreme) with the shock and disillusionment experienced by immigrants. He also explores why the promise of American democracy has been so persuasive to immigrants despite the experience of prejudice regarding cultural inferiority, a history of slavery and genocide, violations of human rights, media manipulations, and imperial self-righteousness. Mehring also argues the African American struggle for freedom represents a paradigmatic test case of American democracy for German immigrants and identifies racial differences as a continuing cause of friction. Comparisons of German intellectuals and African American artists include David Walked and Frederick Douglas, and case studies include examples in in literature, journalism, art, and music. Annotation c2014 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)