Essays
Tocqueville and America
– James Q. Wilson, "Tocqueville and America," Claremont Review of Books, Vol. 12, No. 2, Spring 2012, pp. 14-16.Excerpt of an admiring but critical essay by James Q. Wilson on Tocqueville: Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville is no doubt the greatest book ever written by a foreigner about this country. It may be one of the greatest books written about any… More
Measuring the Slant
– James Q. Wilson, "Measuring the Slant," Claremont Review of Books, Vol. 12, No. 1, Winter 2011-2012, pp. 80-81.Muffingate and the Media’s Big Fat Mistake
– James Q. Wilson, "Muffingate and the Media's Big Fat Mistake," Wall Street Journal, December 8, 2011.Optimistic or Pessimistic About America
– James Q. Wilson, "Optimistic or Pessimistic About America," Commentary, November 2011.Burying the Hatchet
– James Q. Wilson "Burying the Hatchet," Wall Street Journal, October 1, 2011.Crime and the Great Recession
– James Q. Wilson, "Crime and the Great Recession," City Journal, Vol. 21, No. 3, Summer 2011.Not-So-Dismal Science
– James Q. Wilson, "Not-So-Dismal Science," Claremont Review of Books, Vol. 11, No. 3, Summer 2011, pp. 65-66.Hard Times, Fewer Crimes
– James Q. Wilson, "Hard Times, Fewer Crimes," Wall Street Journal, May 28, 2011.In the Pew Instead of Prison
– James Q. Wilson, "In the Pew Instead of Prison," Wall Street Journal, May 9, 2011.Uneven Progress
– James Q. Wilson, "Uneven Progress," Claremont Review of Books, Vol. 11, Nos. 1 and 2, Winter 2010-Spring 2011, pp. 88-89.Beyond Ideology
– James Q. Wilson, "Beyond Ideology," Wall Street Journal, January 21, 2011.The Future of Blame
– James Q. Wilson, "The Future of Blame," National Affairs, Number 2, Winter 2010.Lessons of the Stimulus
– James Q. Wilson and Pietro S. Nivola, "Lessons of the Stimulus," Essays in Public Policy, Hoover Institution, October 14, 2010.Free to Use
– James Q. Wilson, "Free to Use," Claremont Review of Books," Vol. 10, No. 1, Winter 2009-2010, pp.Will Washington Pay for the Terror Trials?
– James Q. Wilson, "Will Washington Pay for the Terror Trials?" Wall Street Journal, January 21, 2010.The DNA of Politics
– James Q. Wilson, "The DNA of Politics," City Journal, Vol. 19, No. 1, Winter 2009.Free to Use
– James Q. Wilson, "Free to Use," Claremont Review of Books, December 2009, pp. 33-34.A Life in the Public Interest
– James Q. Wilson, "A Life in the Public Interest," The Wall Street Journal, September 21, 2009.Religion and Polarization
– James Q. Wilson, "Religion and Polarization," in Robert Faulkner and Susan Shell, editors, America at Risk: Threats to Liberal Self-Government in an Age of Uncertainty (University of Michigan, 2009).Pat Moynihan Thinks About Families
– James Q. Wilson, "Pat Moynihan Thinks About Families," Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, No. 621, January 2009, pp. 28-33.Why Don’t Jews Like the Christians Who Like Them?
– James Q. Wilson, "Why Don't Jews Like the Christians Who Like Them?" City Journal, Vol. 18, No. 1, Winter 2008.Looking Back
– Peter H. Schuck and James Q. Wilson, "Looking Back," in Peter H. Schuck, and James Q. Wilson, editors, Understanding America: The Anatomy of American Exceptionalism (Public Affairs, 2008).Criminal Justice
– James Q. Wilson, "Criminal Justice," in Peter H. Schuck and James Q. Wilson, editors, Understanding America: The Anatomy of American Exceptionalism (Public Affairs, 2008).Christians, Jews, and Israel
– James Q. Wilson, "Christians, Jews, and Israel." Wilson Lecture, Manhattan Institute, 2007.Transcript of James Q. Wilson’s 2007 Wilson Lecture to the Manhattan Institute.
A Real Insurance Fraud
– James Q. Wilson, "A Real Insurance Fraud," Wall Street Journal, November 16, 2007.Bowling with Others
– James Q. Wilson, "Bowling with Others," Commentary, October 2007.Excerpt: In his celebrated book, Bowling Alone (2000), the political scientist Robert D. Putnam argued that America, and perhaps the Western world as a whole, has become increasingly disconnected from family, friends, and neighbors. We once bowled in leagues;… More
Gun Control Isn’t the Answer
– James Q. Wilson, "Gun Control Isn't the Answer," Los Angeles Times, April 20, 2007.War and the Mass Media
Transcript of James Q. Wilson’s 2006 Wilson Lecture at the Manhattan Institute.
The Press at War
– James Q. Wilson, "The Press at War," City Journal, Vol. 16, No. 4, Autumn 2006.The Need for Evaluation Research
– James Q. Wilson, "The Need for Evaluation Research," Journal of Experimental Criminology, Vol. 2, No. 3 (September 2006), pp. 321-328.American Exceptionalism
– James Q. Wilson, "American Exceptionalism," American Spectator, September 2006. This essay also appeared in James Piereson, editor, The Pursuit of Liberty: Can the Ideals that Made America Great Provide a Model for the World? (Encounter, 2008).A Quarter Century of Broken Windows
– James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling, "A Quarter Century of Broken Windows," American Interest, September-October 2006, 99. 168-172.How Divided Are We?
– James Q. Wilson, "How Divided Are We?" Commentary, February 2006.Divided We Stand
– James Q. Wilson, "Divided We Stand," Wall Street Journal, February 15, 2006.America’s Mayor
– James Q. Wilson, "America's Mayor," Claremont Review of Books, December 2005, pp. 13-15.Defending and Advancing Freedom
– James Q. Wilson, "Defending and Advancing Freedom," Commentary, November 2005.Tanner Lectures
– James Q. Wilson, "I. Politics and Polarization" and "II. Religion and Polarization," Tanner Lectures on Human Values, Harvard University, November 2-3, 2005.The Sources of American Conduct
– James Q. Wilson, "The Sources of American Conduct," American Interest, Autumn 2005.Freakonomics
– James Q. Wilson, "Freakonomics," Commentary, July 2005.Character and Culture
– James Q. Wilson, "Character and Culture," The Public Interest, Number 159, Spring 2005.Marriage and Commitment
– James Q. Wilson, "Marriage and Commitment," Marriage and Families, Vol. 16, No. 1 (2005), pp. 2-11.What Makes a Terrorist?
– James Q. Wilson, "What Makes a Terrorist?" City Journal, Vol. 14, No. 1, Winter 2004.Islam and Freedom
– James Q. Wilson, "Islam and Freedom," Commentary, December 2004.Why Did Kerry Lose? Answer: It Wasn’t “Values”
– James Q. Wilson, "Why Did Kerry Lose? Answer: It Wasn't 'Values'," Wall Street Journal, November 8, 2004.Why America Works
– James Q. Wilson, "Why America Works," Claremont Review of Books, Vol. 4, No. 4, Fall 2004.Broken
– James Q. Wilson, "Broken," Commentary, October 2004.Sex Matters
– James Q. Wilson, "Sex Matters," Wall Street Journal, July 13, 2004.Why Freedom Can Be A Lot More Important Than Democracy
– James Q. Wilson, "Why Freedom Can Be A Lot More Important Than Democracy," Sunday Times, May 2, 2004.The Independent Mind of Edward Banfield
– James Q. Wilson, "The Independent Mind of Edward Banfield," The Public Interest, Number 150, Winter 2003.A Guide to Schwarzenegger Country
– James Q. Wilson, "A Guide to Schwarzenegger Country," Commentary, December 2003.Has the Supreme Court Gone Too Far?
– James Q. Wilson, "Has the Supreme Court Gone Too Far?" Commentary, October 2003.Defining the “Peace Party”
– James Q. Wilson and Karlyn Bowman, "Defining the 'Peace Party'," The Public Interest, Number 153, Fall 2003.Mexifornia by Victor Davis Hanson
– James Q. Wilson, "Mexifornia by Victor Davis Hanson," Commentary, September 2003.Gentleman, Politician, Scholar
– James Q. Wilson, "Gentleman, Politician, Scholar," The Public Interest, Number 152, Summer 2003.The Challenge of Crime
– James Q. Wilson, "The Challenge of Crime," Commentary, June 2003.Convincing Black Students that Studying Hard is Not “Acting White”
– James Q. Wilson, "Convincing Black Students that Studying Hard is Not 'Acting White',"Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, No. 39 (Spring 2003), pp. 85-88.The Right Man
– James Q. Wilson, "The Right Man," Commentary, March 2003.The Family Way
– James Q. Wilson, "The Family Way," Wall Street Journal, January 7, 2003.Reflections on the Political Context
– James Q. Wilson, "Reflections on the Political Context," in Henry J. Aaron, James M. Lindsay, and Pietro S. Nivola, editors, Agenda for the Nation (Brookings Institution, 2003), pp. 527-550.Why We Don’t Marry
– James Q. Wilson, "Why We Don't Marry," City Journal, Vol. 12, No. 1, Winter 2002.The Reform Islam Needs
– James Q. Wilson, "The Reform Islam Needs," City Journal, Vol. 12, No. 4, Autumn 2002.Liberalism and Diversity
– James Q. Wilson, "Liberalism and Diversity," The Public Interest, Number 148, Summer 2002.A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court: A Biography
– James Q. Wilson, "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court: A Biography," in Charles R. Kesler, editor, Edward C. Banfield: An Appreciation (Henry Salvatori Center at Claremont McKenna College, 2002).Slavery and the Black Family
– James Q. Wilson, "Slavery and the Black Family," The Public Interest, Number 147, Spring 2002.Sex and the Marriage Market
– James Q. Wilson, "Sex and the Marriage Market," Commentary, March 2002.Profiles in Courage
– James Q. Wilson and Heather Higgins, "Profiles in Courage," Wall Street Journal, January 10, 2002, p. A12.Crime
– James Q. Wilson, "Crime," in Abigail Thernstrom and Stephan Thernstrom, editors, Beyond the Color Line: New Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity in America (Hoover Institution Press, 2002), pp. 115-126.Schools, Vouchers, and the American Public
– James Q. Wilson, "Schools, Vouchers, and the American Public," Commentary, September 2001.What Do We Make of the Election?
– James Q. Wilson, "What Do We Make of the Election?" Slate, November 10, 2000.Is the Electoral College Worth Saving?
– James Q. Wilson, "Is the Electoral College Worth Saving?" Slate, November 3, 2000.Why They Don’t Campaign About the Environment
– James Q. Wilson, "Why They Don't Campaign About the Environment," Slate, October 27, 2000.Can We Believe the Polls?
– James Q. Wilson, "Can We Believe the Polls?" Slate, October 20, 2000.Guns and Bush
– James Q. Wilson, "Guns and Bush," Slate, October 13, 2000.A Campaign About Issues
– James Q. Wilson, "A Campaign About Issues," Slate, October 6, 2000.An Enemy of the Estate Tax
– James Q. Wilson, "An Enemy of the Estate Tax," Slate, September 14, 2000.Soft Money and Politics
– James Q. Wilson, "Soft Money and Politics," Slate, September 29, 2000.The Wisdom of the National Debt
– James Q. Wilson, "The Wisdom of the National Debt," Slate, September 22, 2000.Why Not Cut Taxes?
– James Q. Wilson, "Why Not Cut Taxes?" Slate, September 8, 2000.What Death-Penalty Errors?
– James Q. Wilson, " What Death Penalty Errors?" New York Times, July 10, 2000, p. A19.The Fourth Great Awakening
– James Q. Wilson, "The Fourth Great Awakening," Commentary, June 2000.A New Strategy for the War on Drugs
– James Q. Wilson, "A New Strategy for the War on Drugs," Wall Street Journal, April 13, 2000.Two Cheers for Capitalism
– James Q. Wilson, "Two Cheers for Capitalism," The Public Interest, Number 139, Spring 2000.Democracy for All?
– James Q. Wilson, "Democracy for All?" Commentary, March 2000.Religion and Public Life
– James Q. Wilson, "Religion and Public Life,"E.J. Dionne, Jr., and John J. DiIulio, Jr., editors, What's God Got to do With the American Experiment? (Brookings Institution, 2000). This essay also appeared in James R. Wilburn, editor, Faith and Public Policy (Lexington Books, 2002).Dutch by Edmond Morris
– James Q. Wilson, "Dutch by Edmond Morris," Commentary, December 1999.The Man Who Knew Too Much: Edward C. Banfield, 1916-1999
– James Q. Wilson, "The Man Who Knew Too Much: Edward C. Banfield, 1916-1999," The Weekly Standard, October 18, 1999, vol. 5, no. 5.Cultural Meltdown
– James Q. Wilson, "Cultural Meltdown," The Public Interest, Number 137, Fall 1999.Hate and Punishment
– James Q. Wilson, "Hate and Punishment," National Review, September 13, 1999.A Gap in the Curriculum
– James Q. Wilson, "A Gap in the Curriculum," New York Times, April 26, 1999.Thinking about Parent and Child
– James Q. Wilson, "Thinking about Parent and Child," The Public Interest, Number 135, Spring 1999.Religion and Public Life
– James Q. Wilson, "Religion and Public Life," Brookings Review, Spring 1999, pp. 36-41.City Life and Citizenship
– James Q. Wilson, "City Life and Citizenship," in Martha Derthick, editor, Dilemmas of Scale in America's Federal Democracy, (Woodrow Wilson Center Press and Cambridge University Press, 1999), pp. 17-36.Idealizing Politics
– James Q. Wilson, "Idealizing Politics," Critical Review, Vol. 12, No. 4 (1998), pp. 563-568.The Closing of the American City
– James Q. Wilson, "The Closing of the American City," The New Republic, May 11, 1998.A review essay of Lou Cannon’s Official Negligence and Tamar Jacoby’s Someone Else’s House.
In Paul Johnson’s America
– James Q. Wilson, "In Paul Johnson's America," Commentary, April 1998.Human Remedies for Social Disorders
– James Q. Wilson, "Human Remedies for Social Disorders," The Public Interest, Number 131, Spring 1998.American in Black and White
– James Q. Wilson, "American in Black and White," Commentary, January 1998.Criminal Justice in England and America
– James Q. Wilson, "Criminal Justice in England and America," The Public Interest, Number 126, Winter 1997.Making Justice Swifter
– James Q. Wilson, "Making Justice Swifter," City Journal, Vol. 7, No. 4, Autumn 1997.Race, Crime, and the Law
– James Q. Wilson, "Race, Crime, and the Law," Commentary, September 1997.Hostility in America
– James Q. Wilson, "Hostility in America," The New Republic, August 25, 1997. This essay also appeared in the University of Colorado Law Review, Vol. 69, No. 4 (Fall 1998).Democracy Needs Pork to Survive
– James Q. Wilson, "Democracy Needs Pork to Survive," Wall Street Journal, August 14, 1997, p. A12.Cars and Their Enemies
– James Q. Wilson, "Cars and Their Enemies," Commentary, July 1997.Paternalism, Democracy, and Bureaucracy
– James Q. Wilson, "Paternalism, Democracy, and Bureaucracy," in Lawrence M. Mead, editor, The New Paternalism: Supervisory Approaches to Poverty (Brookings Institution, 1997), pp. 330-343.How Do We Know We are Doing Good?
– James Q. Wilson, "How Do We Know We are Doing Good?," in John W. Barry and Bruno V. Manno, editors, Giving Better, Giving Smarter: Working Papers of the National Commission on Philanthropy and Civic Renewal (National Commission on Philanthropy and Civic Renewal, 1997), pp. 207-213.Against Homosexual Marriage
– James Q. Wilson, "Against Homosexual Marriage," Commentary, March 1996.No More Home Alone
– James Q. Wilson and Kathleen Sylvester, "No More Home Alone," Policy Review, March 1996, pp. 34-39.Reading Jurors’ Minds
– James Q. Wilson, "Reading Jurors' Minds," Commentary, February 1996.The Corporation as a Political Actor
– James Q. Wilson, "The Corporation as a Political Actor," in Carl Kaysen, editor, The American Corporation Today (Oxford University Press, 1996).Culture, Crime, and Human Nature
– James Q. Wilson, "Culture, Crime, and Human Nature," in T. William Boxx and Gary M. Quinlivan, editors, Culture in Crisis and the Renewal of Civil Life (Rowman and Littlefield, 1996).Cultural Aspects of Poverty
– James Q. Wilson, "Cultural Aspects of Poverty," in Michael R. Darby, editor, Reducing Poverty in America: Views and Approaches (Sage, 1996), pp. 367-372.Welfare Reform and Character Development
– James Q. Wilson, "Welfare Reform and Character Development," City Journal, Vol. 5, No. 1, Winter 1995.Capitalism and Morality
– James Q. Wilson, "Capitalism and Morality," The Public Interest, Number 121, Fall 1995.Liberal Ghosts
– James Q. Wilson, Liberal Ghosts, New Republic, May 22, 1995, pp. 31-34.Use Drug Tests to Reduce Demand for Narcotics
– James Q. Wilson, "Use Drug Tests to Reduce Demand for Narcotics," American Enterprise, May 1995, pp. 49-50.Just Take Away Criminals’ Guns
– James Q. Wilson, "Just Take Away Criminals' Guns," American Enterprise, May 1995, pp. 37-38.New Politics, New Elites, Old Publics
– James Q. Wilson, "New Politics, New Elites, Old Publics," in Marc K. Landy and Martin A. Levin, editors, The New Politics of Public Policy (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1995), pp. 249-267.Justice versus Humanity in the Family
– James Q. Wilson, "Justice versus Humanity in the Family," in The Neoconservative Imagination: Essays in Honor of Irving Kristol (AEI Press, 1995), pp. 147-164.Thinking About Reorganization
– James Q. Wilson, "Thinking About Reorganization," in Roy Godson, Ernest R, May, and Gary Schmitt, editors, US Intelligence at the Crossroads: Agendas for Reform (Brasseys, 1995).Liberalism, Modernism, and the Good Life
– James Q. Wilson, "Liberalism, Modernism, and the Good Life," in Mary Ann Glendon and David Blankenhorn, editors, Seedbeds of Virtue: Sources of Character and Citizenship in American Society (Madison Books, 1995).A New Approach to Welfare Reform: Humility
– James Q. Wilson, "A New Approach to Welfare Reform: Humility," Wall Street Journal, December 29, 1994.Reinventing Public Administration
– James Q. Wilson, "Reinventing Public Administration," PS: Political Science and Politics, Vol. 27, No. 4 (December 1994), pp. 667-673.Prisons in a Free Society
– James Q. Wilson, "Prisons in a Free Society," The Public Interest, Number 117, Fall 1994.Bring Back the Orphanage
– James Q. Wilson, "Bring Back the Orphanage," Wall Street Journal, August 22, 1994.What To Do About Crime
– James Q. Wilson, "What To Do About Crime," Commentary, September 1994.Tales of Virtue
– James Q. Wilson, "Tales of Virtue," Commentary, April 1994.On Abortion
– James Q. Wilson, "On Abortion," Commentary, January 1994.Can the Bureaucracy be Deregulated?
– James Q. Wilson, "Can the Bureaucracy be Deregulated? Lessons from Government Agencies," in John J. DiIulio, Jr., editor, Deregulating the Public Service: Can Government Be Improved? (Brookings Institution, 1994), pp. 37-61.Culture, Incentives, and the Underclass
– James Q. Wilson, "Culture, Incentives, and the Underclass," in Henry J. Aaron, Thomas E. Mann, and Timothy Taylor, editors, Values and Public Policy (Brookings Institution, 1994), pp. 54-80. This essay also appears in Don E. Eberly, editor, The Essential Civil Society Reader: The Classic Essays (Rowman and Littlefield, 2000), pp. 195-216.Calvin and Hobbes and John Paul
– James Q. Wilson, "Calvin and Hobbes and John Paul," New York Times, November 26, 1993.In Loco Parentis: Helping Children When Families Fail Them
– James Q. Wilson, "In Loco Parentis: Helping Children When Families Fail Them," Brookings Review, Fall 1993, pp. 12-15.A Rhythm to the Madness
– James Q. Wilson, "Crime: A Rhythm to the Madness," Time, August 23, 1993.On Gender
– James Q. Wilson, "On Gender," The Public Interest, Number 112, Summer 1993.Stagestruck
– James Q. Wilson, "Stagestruck," The New Republic, June 21, 1993.A review essay of Kiku Adatto’s Picture Perfect.
What Is Moral, and How Do We Know It?
– James Q. Wilson, "What Is Moral, and How Do We Know It?" Commentary, June 1993.The Family-Values Debate
– James Q. Wilson, "The Family-Values Debate," Commentary, April 1993.The Moral Sense
– James Q. Wilson, "The Moral Sense," American Political Science Review, Volume 87, Number 1, March 1993, pp. 1-11.Presidential Address, American Political Science Association, 1992.
Crime, Race, and Values
– James Q. Wilson, "Crime, Race, and Values," Society, Vol. 30, No. 1 (November-December 1992), pp. 90-93.Redefining Equality: The Liberalism of Mickey Kaus
– James Q. Wilson, "Redefining Equality: The Liberalism of Mickey Kaus," The Public Interest, Number 109, Fall 1992.The Contradictions of an Advanced Capitalist State
– James Q. Wilson, "The Contradictions of an Advanced Capitalist State," Forbes, September 14, 1992, pp. 111-116.Scholars Must Expand Our Understanding of Criminal Behavior
– James Q. Wilson, "Scholars Must Expand Our Understanding of Criminal Behavior," Chronicle of Higher Education, June 10, 1992.How to Teach Better Values in Inner Cities
– James Q. Wilson, "How to Teach Better Values in Inner Cities," Wall Street Journal, May 18, 1992, p. A14.To Prevent Riots, Reduce Black Crime
– James Q. Wilson, "To Prevent Riots, Reduce Black Crime," Wall Street Journal, May 6, 1992, p. A16.Edward Banfield, American Skeptic
– James Q. Wilson, "Edward Banfield, American Skeptic," The Public Interest Number 107, Spring 1992.Incivility and Crime
– James Q. Wilson, "Incivility and Crime," in Edward C. Banfield, editor, Civility and Citizenship (Paragon House, 1992).Reforming the Schools
– James Q. Wilson, "Reforming the Schools," Commentary, December 1991.The Government Gap
– James Q. Wilson, "The Government Gap," The New Republic, June 3, 1991.A review essay of E.J. Dionne’s Why Americans Hate Politics and Alan Ehrenhalt’s The United States of Ambition.
Interest and Deliberation in the American Republic
– James Q. Wilson, "Interest and Deliberation in the American Republic, or, Why James Madison Would Never Have Received the James Madison Award," PS: Political Science and Politics, Volume 23, Number 4 (December 1990), pp. 558-562.Juridical Democracy versus American Democracy
– James Q. Wilson, "Juridical Democracy versus American Democracy," PS: Political Science and Politics, Vol. 23, No. 4, (December 1990), pp. 570-572.Multiple Choice Test
– James Q. Wilson, "Multiple Choice Test," The New Republic, October 8, 1990.A review essay of John Chubb and Terry Moe’s Politics, Markets, and America’s Schools.