Who Are We?: The Challenges to America's National Identity

In his seminal work The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order, Samuel Huntington argued provocatively and presciently that with the end of the Cold War, "civilizations" were replacing ideologies as the new fault lines in international politics.

Now, in his controversial new work, Who Are We?, Huntington focuses on an identity crisis closer to home as he examines the impact other civilizations and their values are having on our own country.

The Foundations of America's Identity

America, Huntington explains, was founded by British settlers who brought with them a distinct culture, including:

• The English language
• Protestant values
• Individualism
• Religious commitment
• Respect for law

Over time, waves of immigrants to the United States gradually accepted these values and assimilated into America's Anglo-Protestant culture.

Challenges to National Identity

In recent years, however, Huntington argues that America's national identity has been eroded by several challenges:

• The difficulty of assimilating massive numbers of primarily Hispanic immigrants
• Issues such as bilingualism and multiculturalism
• The devaluation of citizenship
• The "denationalization" of American elites

A Call for Reasserting Core Values

The events of September 11 brought a revival of American patriotism and a renewal of American identity, but Huntington warns that this revival is already fading. He emphasizes the urgent need to reassert the core values that define what it means to be American.

A Timely and Thought-Provoking Work

Timely and thought-provoking, Who Are We? is an important book that is certain to shape our national conversation about who we are.