Long Island native Robert L. Foster spent 12 years working at an environmental lobbying group and uses his experience in his self-published debut novel “Subordinating American Democracy: Exploring the Functionality of ‘Dysfunctional’ Hyperpartisanship.”
Foster, a Floral Park native and Glenwood Landing resident, uses ecological principles to examine the evolution of hyperpartisanship in American political culture and explores the relationship between the public and private sectors in his book.
Foster said he first thought of the book when he was in law school, but did not start writing it until after he graduated. He said he “always dreamed of writing a book.”
“I was compelled internally to do this,” he said.
Foster’s ecological foundation comes from his experience in environmental science, he said. He received a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Long Island University, where he studied environmental science with a concentration in biology.
From there, Foster said he worked at an environmental organization that lobbied at the local, state and federal levels. In this position, Foster said he had “direct experiences with the political process.”
After his experience in issue advocacy, Foster said he went back to school at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, where he graduated in 2016.
Foster said he developed the idea for the book in law school but hadn’t started his research “in earnest” until around 2017.
Throughout the research and writing process, Foster said he examined his own beliefs, observing at times when his own ideas were flawed.
“It’s evolutionary,” he said. “And evolution is a theme that is present throughout the book and my life.”
Foster said he used his ideas and research “translating” abstract ideas into concise writing. He said that ideas and research could be completed “somewhat quickly,” but finding the words to reflect his ideas was the longest part of the process. He said he spent about three hours a day writing.
Using his environmental background, Foster said he used an “ecological framework” to examine hyperpartisanship.
The book reflects Foster’s experience in both the political and scientific fields. From its conception, the book used many of Foster’s philosophies from his work in politics.
“I wouldn’t have written the book if I didn’t have those experiences,” he said.
“Subordinating American Democracy” is a self-published work that will be available on Amazon on March 13. The book is available for pre-order now.
