"Nicol Rae's incisive analysis of the southern faction in the Democratic party demonstrates that a political scientist can write for a general audience with clarity and a sound historical perspective. Rae's study is a significant contribution to the literature on southern politics in the twentieth century....A worthwhile addition to syllabi for courses in American politics and recent United States history."--The Journal of Southern History"With Southern Democrats, Nicol Rae continues his effort to reinvigorate the study of political factions, as intellectual focus and as a central element in American politics. The Southern Democrats have long been the effective fulcrum of much American politicking; Southern Democrats is essential reading for those who believe in having politics in their political science."--Byron E. Shafer, Andrew W. Mellon Professor of American Government, Nuffield College, Oxford"Nicol Rae has written a thorough, penetrating analysis of this fascinating faction of the Democratic party, a study that is sensitive to all the nuances present in national and Southern politics. The extensive quotations from Rae's interviews with scores of prominent Southern Democratic politicians are gems!"--Alexander Lamis, Case Western Reserve University"Southern Democrats is a useful introduction to one of the perennial enigmas of national politics....[Rae] is to be commended for directing our attention to the structure of American political parties, especially how they frame issues and how we select candidates."--Georgia Historical Quarterly"...Rae's interpretation is reliable and orthodox."--American Politics Review