"Confederate Symbols in the Contemporary South is a clear-eyed, even-handed, and thought-provoking look at this controversy. In essays by historians, philosophers, lawyers, and political scientists, we see the complex and changing landscape in which fights over Confederate symbols have played out. This book is a must read for anyone who cares about history, memory, and national identity at the dawn of the 21st century."-- Tony Horwitz, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War

"The scholarly tone of Confederate Symbols in the Contemporary South gives these thoughtful essays the authenticity that is truly needed in the emotionally charged debate over the Confederate flag."--Library Journal

This illustrated collection of essays examines the controversy surrounding the use and display of Confederate symbols in the modern South. Prominent scholars from many disciplines explore the battle between pro-Confederate-symbol forces (traditionalists) and anti-Confederate-symbol forces (reconstructionists) as they struggle to reconcile the values and customs of a racially conservative Old South and a racially liberal New South.

Should the Confederate battle flag continue to fly atop a state capitol dome, or does this "official" display violate the constitutional rights of some citizens? Should Confederate flags and monuments be removed completely from the landscape? Should public funds be used to maintain Confederate monuments on courthouse lawns, traffic islands, and public facilities? These are a few of the perplexing questions addressed in this collection.

Contributors:
M. Christine Cagle
John M. Coski
James Forman Jr.
Robert M. Harris
Robert Holmes
Robert C. Jeffrey
J. Michael Martinez
Ron McNinch-Su
Laurence W. Moreland
Beth Reingold
William D. Richardson
George Schedler
Robert P. Steed
Richard S. Wike

J. Michael Martinez is an attorney, adjunct professor of political science at Kennesaw State University, and author of numerous articles including "State Displays of Confederate Symbols" in the Southeastern Political Review.
William D. Richardson is professor of political science and director of the W. O. Farber Center for Civic Leadership at the University of South Dakota and author of Democracy, Bureaucracy, and Character: Founding Thought. Ronald McNinch-Su is chair of the Department of Public Administration and Legal Studies at the University of Guam and author of numerous articles on public policy, ethics, and policy administration.

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"A work by political scientists that is worth the attention of everyone interested in the Civil War and Reconstruction. All involved in this project are to be congratulated for bringing together chapters that summarize salient debates over the Confederate symbols in the modern South. "- Joseph G. Dawson III, Texas A&M University. Civil War History
--Civil War History, Book Reviews

"All involved in this project are to be congratulated for bringing together chapters that summarize salient debates over the Confederate symbols in the modern South. The essays in this book point out how historical events and symbols of the 1860s created controversies across America more that a century after the Civil War. These cogent essays also prompt questions about how Confederate symbols remain unresolved issues in American public life. "- Civil War History
--Civil War History

"The debate over flags and monuments will surely continue, and we must all hope that compromises can be reached. Confederate Symbols in the Contemporary South, by its cool, detached perspective, could help lead this reasoned public discourse." - Blue and Grey Magazine
--Blue and Grey Magazine

"Valuable as a resource for future research on the recent controversies over the Confederate image." -Georgia Historical Quarterly
--Georgia Historical Quarterly

"Essential reading for all those interested in how southern history and politics interact in the highly contested arena of race and memory." - Journal of Southern History
--Journal of Southern History