Back to America: Identity, Political Culture, and the Tea Party

In this review of Back to America the reviewer finds a focused ethnography that will matter most to students, scholars and readers who want to understand grassroots political identity. William H. Westermeyer concentrates on how local Tea Party groups create spaces for action-oriented identity work rather than treating the movement as simply a top-down phenomenon, and that emphasis is the single biggest reason to read this book. The account is clear, grounded in fieldwork, and useful for anyone studying contemporary political culture or civic mobilization.

Key Features

• Ethnographic focus: The book presents sustained fieldwork of local Tea Party groups, offering concrete examples of how activists form political identities in everyday settings.
• Local perspective: Westermeyer shows how Local Tea Party Groups create submerged spaces where participants connect movement goals to personal concerns.
• Cultural analysis: The text frames activism within figured worlds, helping readers link cultural context to political action in a way that clarifies motivation and meaning.
• Accessible prose: The writing explains theoretical ideas through grounded examples so that graduate students and informed general readers can follow the argument without excessive jargon.
• Contemporary relevance: By focusing on the Tea Party as a continuing influence in American politics, the book situates its findings within ongoing debates about civic identity and political culture.

Who It's For

The book is best for graduate students, scholars of political sociology or anthropology, and readers interested in modern social movements who want a close look at grassroots organizational life. In particular, those researching identity formation or political culture will find the empirical focus and theoretical framing valuable.

Readers seeking a broad history of the entire Tea Party movement or a policy-level account of political funding and media strategies should look elsewhere, since the book emphasizes local practice and participant perspectives over macro-level financial networks or mass media analysis.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Strong qualitative data that illuminates how ordinary activists shape collective identities.
• Clear theoretical framing using figured worlds to connect culture and political behavior.
• Readable case studies that make abstract concepts tangible for students and researchers.

Cons

• The narrow focus on local groups means it does not fully address national-level funding or media influence, which some readers may expect.

Specifications

Title	Back to America: Identity, Political Culture, and the Tea Party Movement
Author	William H. Westermeyer
Approach	Ethnography of local Tea Party groups
Main themes	Identity, political culture, figured worlds
Audience	Students, scholars, readers of political anthropology
Scope	Local activist groups and grassroots practices

Our Verdict

Back to America is a well-executed ethnographic study that offers important insights into how grassroots activists construct political identity. It is good value for readers who want a qualitative, culturally informed account of the Tea Party from the ground up, though those seeking a comprehensive national or media-focused history may need supplementary sources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book focus on national leaders or grassroots activists?
It focuses on grassroots Local Tea Party groups and participant practices rather than national leaders.

Is the book suitable for undergraduate courses?
Yes, advanced undergraduates in political sociology or anthropology will find the ethnographic examples useful, though instructors may supplement theory as needed.

Will it cover funding and media influence?
The book emphasizes local cultural dynamics and identity; readers wanting in-depth funding or media analysis should consult additional sources.