Promotional Information

How has Barack Obama done in his first term as a "progressive president," especially in relation to his campaign assertions? This book analyzes the performance of Obama and his administration in promoting progressive causes in a wide range of policy areas, including the economy, education, immigration, healthcare reform, criminal justice, and foreign affairs.

Table of Contents

Foreword Leonard Pitts Acknowledgments Introduction Obama and the Promise of Change Luigi Esposito and Laura L. Finley Chapter 1 Progressivism and Economics: The Case of President Obama Steven L. Arxer, Matthew Babcock, and Walter Borges Chapter 2 Educating the "Education President" Jung Min Choi, Tashina J. Vavuris, and Mariko Ono Chapter 3 Negotiating Health: The Challenges of Progressive Healthcare Reform in the United States Lisa Konczal Chapter 4 Obama, Progressivism, Harm Reduction, and Drug Policy: From War to Health and Rights Fernando M. Perez Chapter 5 "In the Land of the Blind": Evaluating Obama's Environmental Record Kent D. Shifferd Chapter 6 Rating the 44th President on Immigration Randall Amster and Margaret Groarke Chapter 7 Obama at War Nicolas J. S. Davies Chapter 8 Race and the Obama Presidency Victor Romano and Melanie Sberna Hinojosa Chapter 9 The First Female President? Assessing Obama's First-Term Work on Women's Issues Laura L. Finley Chapter 10 Waiting for Change: Obama and the LGBT Community P. Tom Semm and Christina Sanchez-Weston Chapter 11 Being Progressive on National Security: The Rolling Back of Bush Administration Policies and Keeping America Safe Christian A. I. Schlaerth, Aaron Puhrmann, Katelyn Rozenbroek, and Hilary H. Cook Conclusion: Obama and the Future of Progressivism in the United States Laura L. Finley and Luigi Esposito About the Editors and Contributors Index

About the Author

Luigi Esposito, PhD, is associate professor of sociology and criminology at Barry University, Miami Shores, FL. Laura L. Finley, PhD, is assistant professor of sociology and criminology at Barry University, Miami Shores, FL.