In follow-up studies, dozens of reviews, and even a book of essays evaluating his conclusions, Gerald Rosenberg�s
critics�not to mention his supporters�have spent nearly two decades debating the arguments he first put forward
in The Hollow Hope. With this substantially expanded second edition of his landmark work, Rosenberg himself steps
back into the fray, responding to criticism and adding chapters on the same-sex marriage battle that ask anew whether
courts can spur political and social reform.
Finding that the answer is still a resounding no, Rosenberg reaffirms his powerful contention that
it�s nearly impossible to generate significant reforms through litigation. The reason? American courts are ineffective
and relatively weak�far from the uniquely powerful sources for change they�re often portrayed as. Rosenberg supports
this claim by documenting the direct and secondary effects of key court decisions�particularly Brown v. Board of
Education and Roe v. Wade. He reveals, for example, that Congress, the White House, and a determined civil rights
movement did far more than Brown to advance desegregation, while pro-choice activists invested too much in Roe
at the expense of political mobilization. Further illuminating these cases, as well as the ongoing fight for same-sex
marriage rights, Rosenberg also marshals impressive evidence to overturn the common assumption that even unsuccessful
litigation can advance a cause by raising its profile.
Directly addressing itscritics in a new conclusion, The Hollow Hope, Second Edition promises to reignite
for a new generation the national debate it sparked seventeen years ago.