Explains how social and political conditions in the
1990’s helped fuel Americans’ habit of purchasing
goods that are often unnecessary or superfluous.
Eksterowicz, Anthony J., and Glenn P. Hastedt, eds.
The Post-Cold War Presidency. Lanham, Md.: Row-
man & Littlefield, 1999. Ten essays examine the
changing nature of the presidency in the United
States in the light of world events that led to the
demise of communist regimes and the influence
of the Soviet Union, as well as changes in Ameri-
cans’ attitudes toward the nature of government
during the 1990’s.
Frankel, Jeffrey A., and Peter R. Orszag, eds.Ameri-
can Economic Policy in the 1990’s. Cambridge, Mass.:
MIT Press, 2002. Retrospective accounts by aca-
demicians, practicing economists, and govern-
ment officials tracing the history of economic
policy in the United States over the decade. In-
cludes discussions of monetary policy, fiscal pol-
icy, international finance, microeconomics, in-
formation technology, industrial organization,
energy and environmental policies, health care,
and the role of the Clinton administration in eco-
nomic policy making.
Gosse, Van, and Richard Moser, eds.The World the
Sixties Made: Politics and Culture in Recent America.
Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2003. Ex-
amines trends in American life in the last two de-
cades of the twentieth century. Individual essays
focus on significant events or movements that
helped shape attitudes or change laws and prac-
tices in the country.
Halberstam, David.War in a Time of Peace: Bush, Clin-
ton, and the Generals. New York: Scribner, 2001.
Studies American foreign policy and national se-
curity during the 1990’s, focusing on the military
conflicts in which the country engaged during
this period. Examines the impact of the media,
the influence of economic pressures, and the atti-
tudes of Americans toward military operations in
shaping the nation’s policies.
Hall, John A., and Charles Lindholm.Is America
Breaking Apart?Princeton, N.J.: Princeton Univer-
sity Press, 1999. Analyzes the state of American
politics and society at the end of the 1990’s, focus-
ing on issues such as the relationship of individu-
als to government, race relations within the coun-
try, the clash over value systems, America’s role
on the world stage, and the movement toward
fragmentation in American culture.
Hodgson, Godfrey.More Equal than Others: America
from Nixon to the New Centur y. Princeton, N.J.:
Princeton University Press, 2004. Systematic ex-
ploration of the state of the U.S. economic and
political systems during the last three decades of
the twentieth century, emphasizing the impor-
tant, symbiotic relationship between government
and business in shaping the country’s destiny.
Also explores topics such as the influence of
emerging technologies, the importance of immi-
grants and women, the changes in regions such as
the South, and the place of the United States in
the world.
Melzer, Arthur M., Jerry Weinberger, and M. Rich-
ard Zinman, eds.Politics at the Turn of the Centur y.
Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield, 2001. Six-
teen essays analyze conditions and predict future
trends in American politics resulting from the
changes wrought by significant world and national
events during the 1990’s. Places political activities
in the United States within a worldwide context.
Mishel, Lawrence, Jared Bernstein, and John Schmitt.
The State of Working America 1998-99. Ithaca, N.Y.:
Cornell University Press, 1999. Examines the im-
pact of the economy on Americans’ living stan-
dards at the end of the decade. Provides informa-
tion on family income, taxes, employment,
poverty, and distribution of wealth among social
classes. Examines statistics by region within the
United States and compares U.S. workers with
those of other countries. Uses data from earlier
years of the decade for purposes of comparison.
Neimark, Peninah, and Peter Rhoades Mott, eds.
The Environmental Debate: A Documentar y Histor y.
Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1999. Collec-
tion of important writings on environmental is-
sues, including a number prepared during the
1990’s. Also includes a chronology of important
events that shaped environmental policy and a list
of key legislation focused on preserving natural
resources in the United States.
Nelson, Richard.A Culture of Confidence: Politics, Per-
formance, and the Idea of America. Jackson: Univer-
sity Press of Mississippi, 1996. Examines the philo-
sophical foundations for the American character
as it came to be expressed in the 1990’s, particu-
larly as these influenced political activities in the
United States. Argues that Americans have come
to expect politicians to share characteristics of
performers and salespeople.The Nineties in America Bibliography 1043