First published 2012
David Hackett Fischer examines two nations that share democratic governments, mixed economies, and commitments to human rights yet developed along divergent paths. America organized itself around individual liberty while New Zealand prioritized collective fairness. Fischer traces these differences to their colonial origins. English settlers established America and New Zealand in separate eras under distinct versions of the British Empire. Native Americans and Maori populations influenced each society toward different outcomes. The author applies this comparative method to immigration patterns, gender equality, racial policies, reform movements, military conflicts, and modern global roles. Fischer argues that both liberty and fairness contain inherent strengths and weaknesses. He demonstrates how these values can complement each other rather than compete. The book extends Fischer's earlier research on freedom while breaking new ground as the first historical study focused specifically on fairness as a organizing principle. Fischer concludes that understanding these differences between open societies provides the foundation for peaceful coexistence as more nations attempt democratic transitions.
Genres: history, 20th-century, 21st-century, academic, american-history
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: comparative-analysis, historical-perspective
Setting: America, New Zealand
Period: Colonial Era
656 pages · Hardcover · Oxford University Press