Dancing on the Devil's Playground

Full Title: Dancing on the Devil's Playground The Amish Negotiate with Modernity

From technology to social forces, the Amish face an evolving modern world. Their facility in determining whether to accept, reject, or bargain with the options that challenge them allows for measured change that sustains their social fabric and beliefs. In Dancing on the Devil's Playground, James A. Cates employs a sociocultural model to analyze this negotiation and its applications in Amish culture.

These essays illustrate the negotiation techniques the Amish use to protect their unique culture while adapting to the needs of the modern world. The Amish adopt, adapt, defer, or decline the changes they face, all while maintaining their traditions and a unique identity that includes an appropriate distance from the rest of the world.