Southern Politics In State and Nation

by V.O. Key Jr., Alexander Heard (Introduction)

More than thirty years after its original publication, V. O. Key's classic remains the most influential book on its subject. Its author, one of the nation's most astute observers, drew on more than five hundred interviews with Southerners to illuminate the political process in the South and in the nation.
Key's book explains party alignments within states, internal factional competition, and the influence of the South upon Washington. It also probes the nature of the electorate, voting restrictions, and political operating procedures. This reprint of the original edition includes a new introduction by Alexander Heard and a profile of the author by William C. Havard.

"A monumental accomplishment in the field of political investigation."
—Hodding Carter, New York Times

"The raw truth of southern political behavior."
—C. Vann Woodward, Yale Review

"[This book] should be on the 'must' list of any student of American politics."
—Ralph J. Bunche
    
V.O. Key (1908-1963) taught political science at the University of California, Los Angeles, and at Johns Hopkins, Yale, and Harvard universities. He was president of the American Political Science Association and author of numerous books, including American State An Introduction (1956); Public Opinion and American Democracy (1961); and The Responsible Electorate (1966).

Genres: Politics, History, American, Race

752 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1949

Reviews

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating work by political scientist V. O. Key. Purportedly an analysis of southern politics, with a description of some of the colorful figures of the time, it raises a series of hypotheses about the dynamics of politics (e.g., what is the role of party competition in terms of policy choices?). This was published long ago, but remains of interest. . . .

[Robyn Hyden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t stop recommending this book to people. I simply can’t get over how accurately it still describes and explains Alabama’s political ecology, and it was published over 70 years ago.

[Jim Gulley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A snapshot of Southern politics from the mid-1930s through the postwar Truman years with a historical analysis of the events leading up to the era. Part one of the book is a state-by-state analysis of the political dynamics that are distinctive about each one. It includes the major issues and personalities that drove Southern politics in the context of one-party rule. Part two analyzes the impact of one-party rule on national politics and the cohesiveness of Southern Democrats in the Senate and House. Part three explains the mechanisms for how one-party rule operates at a practical level. Part four covers the voter base, and part five concludes with disfranchisement.

Key argues that the backbone of southern political unity is constituted in those counties of black majority population yet white minority rule.

[Bethany Epstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

the definitive text on politics in the american south in the early 1900s. far-reaching, broad, and deep in its scope, unreserved in its indictment of white supremacy as a retarding force in sociopolitical development, and drawing heavily both on statistical calculations and on the qualitative observations of a wide cross-section of political actors, this book is essential for anyone hoping to understand the south even today. political dynamics have shifted mightily in the ensuing 75 years, yet the stage for these convulsions was set by the racial, economic, sectional, religious, and ideological cleavages of the years preceding. this book is very much a text of its time, and some predictions have not aged as well as key might have hoped, but on the whole there really isn't any analysis of the jim crow-era southern political system more thorough and definitive than this one.

[Mark Caleb Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The finest book written on southern politics, and one of the finest ever written about American politics. V.O. Key was a brilliant writer and thinker. This slice of analysis provides a vital window onto the American South in the thralls of Jim Crow. It is remarkable.

[Whitney Frasier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for a class in university. I’m southern, so it was especially interesting to me. It’s a great academic read. But if you want to read for pleasure this one is not for you 😂

[Ean C · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to understand Southern politics in the first half of the 20th century, this is THE book for you. My history professor liken it to the Bible for Southern political history 1900-1950, and I have to agree with him. It's long but the best one volume discussion of Southern politics 1900-1950 that I've ever read.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great example of comparative state politics research. Great view into the politics of the south at mid-century. I go back to this book a lot.

[B.lyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

you can't stop what you can't stop

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

skimmed for thesis. Great information on state-level politics and primary systems.

[Claire Leavitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tour de force.