Synopses & Reviews
"This is an important, knowledge-enhancing, subject-enriching work on a topic of major significance in understanding American politics: recent decades of Republican growth in the South. It adds to our understanding of realignment and political change more broadly by its detailed consideration of the state of the parties. Issues, elites, and institutions--an appropriately broad but rare range of topics--figure prominently in the discussion. While many contend racial attitudes realigned southern whites from the Democrats to the Republicans, David Lublin emphasizes economic and social issues while recognizing the place of racial issues."--Harold W. Stanley, Geurin-Pettus Distinguished Chair in American Politics and Political Economy, Southern Methodist University, author of Voter Mobilization and the Politics of Race
"This book offers a broad examination of factors relating to the development of the Republican party in the South, includes new and valuable data sets, and reflects what is now expected of David Lublin-his distinctive mixture of good social science, normative consideration, and commonsensical understanding of politics."--John H. Aldrich, author of Why Parties? The Origins and Transformation of Political Parties in America
Review
"The democratization of Southern politics, coupled with economic issues rather than racial issues, best explains Republican ascendancy in the South over the past half century of gradual partisan change. So concludes David Lublin in his valuable study challenging the conventional presumption that GOP gains in the South are premised primarily on the politics of race. . . . The book is clearly written, well organized, and well documented."--Political Science Quarterly
Review
The democratization of Southern politics, coupled with economic issues rather than racial issues, best explains Republican ascendancy in the South over the past half century of gradual partisan change. So concludes David Lublin in his valuable study challenging the conventional presumption that GOP gains in the South are premised primarily on the politics of race. . . . The book is clearly written, well organized, and well documented. Political Science Quarterly
Review
One of Choice?s Outstanding Academic Titles for 2004
Review
One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2004
Synopsis
Takes a look at southern politics in the United States which challenges conventional notions about the rise of the Republican Party in the South. This work argues that the evolution of southern politics must be seen as part of a process of democratization of the region's politics.
Synopsis
"This is an important, knowledge-enhancing, subject-enriching work on a topic of major significance in understanding American politics: recent decades of Republican growth in the South. It adds to our understanding of realignment and political change more broadly by its detailed consideration of the state of the parties. Issues, elites, and institutions--an appropriately broad but rare range of topics--figure prominently in the discussion. While many contend racial attitudes realigned southern whites from the Democrats to the Republicans, David Lublin emphasizes economic and social issues while recognizing the place of racial issues."
--Harold W. Stanley, Geurin-Pettus Distinguished Chair in American Politics and Political Economy, Southern Methodist University, author of Voter Mobilization and the Politics of Race"This book offers a broad examination of factors relating to the development of the Republican party in the South, includes new and valuable data sets, and reflects what is now expected of David Lublin-his distinctive mixture of good social science, normative consideration, and commonsensical understanding of politics."--John H. Aldrich, author of Why Parties? The Origins and Transformation of Political Parties in America
Synopsis
This comprehensive and in-depth look at southern politics in the United States challenges conventional notions about the rise of the Republican Party in the South. David Lublin argues that the evolution of southern politics must be seen as part of a process of democratization of the region's politics. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 provided a sharp jolt forward in this process by greatly expanding the southern electorate.
Nevertheless, Democrats prevented Republicans from capitalizing rapidly on these changes. The overwhelming dominance of the region's politics by Democrats and their frequent adoption of conservative positions made it difficult for the GOP to attract either candidates or voters in many contests. However, electoral rules and issues gradually propelled the Democrats to the Left and more conservative white voters and politicians into the arms of the Republican Party.
Surprisingly, despite the racial turmoil of the civil rights era, economic rather than racial issues first separated Democrats from Republicans. Only later did racial and social issues begin to rival economic questions as a source of partisan division and opportunity for Republican politicians.
Synopsis
This comprehensive and in-depth look at southern politics in the United States challenges conventional notions about the rise of the Republican Party in the South. David Lublin argues that the evolution of southern politics must be seen as part of a process of democratization of the region's politics. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 provided a sharp jolt forward in this process by greatly expanding the southern electorate.
Nevertheless, Democrats prevented Republicans from capitalizing rapidly on these changes. The overwhelming dominance of the region's politics by Democrats and their frequent adoption of conservative positions made it difficult for the GOP to attract either candidates or voters in many contests. However, electoral rules and issues gradually propelled the Democrats to the Left and more conservative white voters and politicians into the arms of the Republican Party.
Surprisingly, despite the racial turmoil of the civil rights era, economic rather than racial issues first separated Democrats from Republicans. Only later did racial and social issues begin to rival economic questions as a source of partisan division and opportunity for Republican politicians.
Synopsis
This comprehensive and in-depth look at southern politics in the United States challenges conventional notions about the rise of the Republican Party in the South. David Lublin argues that the evolution of southern politics must be seen as part of a process of democratization of the region's politics. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 provided a sharp jolt forward in this process by greatly expanding the southern electorate.
Nevertheless, Democrats prevented Republicans from capitalizing rapidly on these changes. The overwhelming dominance of the region's politics by Democrats and their frequent adoption of conservative positions made it difficult for the GOP to attract either candidates or voters in many contests. However, electoral rules and issues gradually propelled the Democrats to the Left and more conservative white voters and politicians into the arms of the Republican Party.
Surprisingly, despite the racial turmoil of the civil rights era, economic rather than racial issues first separated Democrats from Republicans. Only later did racial and social issues begin to rival economic questions as a source of partisan division and opportunity for Republican politicians.
Synopsis
"This is an important, knowledge-enhancing, subject-enriching work on a topic of major significance in understanding American politics: recent decades of Republican growth in the South. It adds to our understanding of realignment and political change more broadly by its detailed consideration of the state of the parties. Issues, elites, and institutions--an appropriately broad but rare range of topics--figure prominently in the discussion. While many contend racial attitudes realigned southern whites from the Democrats to the Republicans, David Lublin emphasizes economic and social issues while recognizing the place of racial issues."--Harold W. Stanley, Geurin-Pettus Distinguished Chair in American Politics and Political Economy, Southern Methodist University, author of
Voter Mobilization and the Politics of Race"This book offers a broad examination of factors relating to the development of the Republican party in the South, includes new and valuable data sets, and reflects what is now expected of David Lublin-his distinctive mixture of good social science, normative consideration, and commonsensical understanding of politics."--John H. Aldrich, author of Why Parties? The Origins and Transformation of Political Parties in America
Table of Contents
List of Figures xi
List of Tables xiii
Preface xv
Acknowledgments xix
Chapter One
Introduction 1
Core Questions 2
Describing Partisan Change 3
A Typology of Partisan Change 3
Classifying Partisan Change in the South 6
Explaining Partisan Change in the South 8
The Historical Role of Race in the South 9
Political Elites and Partisan Change 15
Institutions and Partisan Change 20
Racial Issues, Racial Context, and Partisan Change 23
Racial, Economic, and Social Issues and Partisan Change 28
Outline of the Book 31
Chapter Two
The Pace of Republican Gains 33
Federal Elections 34
Presidential Elections 34
Congressional Elections 36
State Elections 40
Gubernatorial Elections 40
State Legislative Elections 46
Local Elections 53
Top-Down Republican Gains? 60
Conclusion 64
Chapter Three
Strategic Elites and Partisan Choice 66
Why Focus on Local and State Legislative Contests? 67
An Indicator of Partisanship 67
Strategic Behavior by Elites 70
The Local Elections Database 73
Candidate Recruitment 74
Republican Contestation of Southern Elections 75
The Incumbency Advantage in Local Elections 81
Conclusion 93
Chapter Four
The Role of Institutions 95
The History of Institutions in Southern Politics 96
Racial Redistricting in the Nineteenth Century 96
The Establishment of Primary and Runoff Elections 98
Racial Redistricting 99
Criticisms and Defenses of Racial Redistricting 101
Racial Redistricting Stimulates Partisan Change 104
Primary Elections 115
Enfranchisement, the Democratic Primary, and Partisan Change 116
Louisiana 123
The Initiative Process and Term Limits 126
No Party Labels on the Ballot:The Case of Virginia 127
Conclusion 131
Chapter Five
The Impact of Racial Context 134
Race Remains Central to Black Partisanship 135
The History of Black Partisanship 137
Maintaining Black Support for the Democrats Today 141
Racial Threat, Electoral Outcomes, and White Voting Behavior 146
National Elections 151
County and State Legislative Elections 155
County and State Legislative Elites 159
Submerged White Backlash?162
Conclusion 170
Chapter Six
Issues and White Partisanship 172
Explaining White Partisan Change in the South 172
Racial Explanations 173
Class or Social Issue Explanations 174
Multiple Factors? 175
The Overemphasis on Racial Issues 177
Assessing the Relative Importance of Racial, Economic, and Social Issues 183
Racial Issues and Democratic Officials 183
Class, Economic Issues, and Partisan Change 187
Social Issues and Partisan Change 192
Comparing the Impact of Racial, Economic, and Social Issues 207
Economic Issues Remain Paramount 207
Racial and Social Issues Have Grown in Importance 210
Conclusion 213
Chapter Seven
The Future of Southern Politics 217
A New "Solid South"? 218
Issues and Southern Politics 221
Do Long-Term Trends Favor the Democrats? 223
Rising Minority Population 223
Supreme Court Attacks on Racial Redistricting 230
Appendix 233
Index 239