Synopsis

It happens in America every four decades and it is about to happen again. America's demand for change in the 2008 election will cause another of our country's periodic political makeovers. This realignment, like all others before it, will result from the coming of age of a new generation of young Americans-the Millennial Generation-and the full emergence of the Internet-based communications technology that this generation uses so well. Beginning in 2008, almost everything about American politics and government will transform-voting patterns, the fortunes of the two political parties, the issues that engage the nation, and our government and its public policy.

Building on the seminal work of previous generational theorists, Morley Winograd and Michael D. Hais demonstrate and describe, for the first time, the two types of realignments-"idealist" and "civic"-that have alternated with one another throughout the nation's history. Based on these patterns, Winograd and Hais predict that the next realignment will be very different from the last one that occurred in 1968. "Idealist" realignments, like the one put into motion forty years ago by the Baby Boomer Generation, produce, among other things, a political emphasis on divisive social issues and governmental gridlock. "Civic" realignments, like the one that is coming, and the one produced by the famous GI or "Greatest" Generation in the 1930s, by contrast, tend to produce societal unity, increased attention to and successful resolution of basic economic and foreign policy issues, and institution-building.

The authors detail the contours and causes of the country's five previous political makeovers, before delving deeply into the generational and technological trends that will shape the next. The book's final section forecasts the impact of the Millennial Makeover on the elections, issues, and public policies that will characterize America's politics in the decades ahead.

Michelle LibraryJournal.com

Anyone interested in the present and future course of American politics should read this insightful work, which could be titled Millennial Takeover. According to interdisciplinary analysis by Winograd (Marshal Sch. of Business, Univ. of Southern California), a former adviser to Al Gore, and Hais (former vice president, entertainment research, Frank N. Magid Assoc.), as we enter this critical 2008 election year we find ourselves on the cusp of another political transformation and realignment wrought by technological and demographic revolutions. The epicenter of this power earthquake is the Millennial generation, those born between 1982 and 2003. Armed with numbers, new attitudes and values, and "netroots" (MySpace, YouTube, Facebook) technology, the Millennials have the potential to revitalize citizenship, civic engagement, political alliances, the two major political parties, and, more broadly, American culture. Their impact may well start with the 2008 presidential election. With sound analysis, the authors persuasively contend that the prospect of Millennials going viral (using their numbers, values, commitments, and sociopolitical networking to effect change and demand new political leadership) must not be underestimated. If their conclusions are accurate, 2008 will be remembered as a turning point in American politics. Highly recommended. (Stephen K. Shaw, Northwest Nazarene Univ., Nampa, ID)

Biography

Morley Winograd is the executive director of the Institute for Communication Technology Management at the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business. He served as a senior policy advisor to Vice President Al Gore during the second term of President Clinton's administration.

Michael D. Hais is retired as the vice president of entertainment research at the communications research firm, Frank N. Magid Associates.