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From the New Deal to the New Right: Race and the Southern Origins of Modern Conservatism
A compelling account of the rise of the modern right in America
The role the South has played in contemporary conservatism is perhaps the most consequential political phenomenon of the second half of the twentieth century. The region’s transition from Democratic stronghold to Republican base has frequently been viewed as a recent occurrence, one that largely stems from a 1960s-era backlash against left-leaning social movements. But as Joseph Lowndes argues in this book, this rightward shift was not necessarily a natural response by alienated whites, but rather the result of the long-term development of an alliance between Southern segregationists and Northern conservatives, two groups who initially shared little beyond opposition to specific New Deal imperatives. Lowndes focuses his narrative on the formative period between the end of the Second World War and the Nixon years. By looking at the 1948 Dixiecrat Revolt, the presidential campaigns of George Wallace, and popular representations of the region, he shows the many ways in which the South changed during these decades. Lowndes traces how a new alliance began to emerge by further examining the pages of the National Review and Republican party-building efforts in the South during the campaigns of Eisenhower, Goldwater, and Nixon. The unique characteristics of American conservatism were forged in the crucible of race relations in the South, he argues, and his analysis of party-building efforts, national institutions, and the innovations of particular political actors provides a keen look into the ideology of modern conservatism and the Republican Party.
The role the South has played in contemporary conservatism is perhaps the most consequential political phenomenon of the second half of the twentieth century. The region’s transition from Democratic stronghold to Republican base has frequently been viewed as a recent occurrence, one that largely stems from a 1960s-era backlash against left-leaning social movements. But as Joseph Lowndes argues in this book, this rightward shift was not necessarily a natural response by alienated whites, but rather the result of the long-term development of an alliance between Southern segregationists and Northern conservatives, two groups who initially shared little beyond opposition to specific New Deal imperatives. Lowndes focuses his narrative on the formative period between the end of the Second World War and the Nixon years. By looking at the 1948 Dixiecrat Revolt, the presidential campaigns of George Wallace, and popular representations of the region, he shows the many ways in which the South changed during these decades. Lowndes traces how a new alliance began to emerge by further examining the pages of the National Review and Republican party-building efforts in the South during the campaigns of Eisenhower, Goldwater, and Nixon. The unique characteristics of American conservatism were forged in the crucible of race relations in the South, he argues, and his analysis of party-building efforts, national institutions, and the innovations of particular political actors provides a keen look into the ideology of modern conservatism and the Republican Party.
224 pages, Paperback
First published June 17, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 22, 2018
Lowndes's book is a very useful companion to Lopez's Dog Whistle Politics (which I would recommend reading first), providing greater historical context for the specific ways that supporters of segregation in the South made common cause with conservative opposition to the New Deal and ideas of limited federal government. The chapters demonstrating the links between those influenced by Collins (who wrote Whither Solid South), most notably the Dixiecrats, and the rise of southern Republicanism and the appeal of Goldwater in the South are the best. Though I also appreciated Lowndes's attention to the way this far-right ideological strain was given populist appeal by George Wallace (with the help of Asa Carter) in his presidential races. I found the conclusion (focusing on Asa Carter's Outlaw Josey Wales) far less compelling. Though I agree that culture is key to the political shift that Lowndes documented, and the appeal of a Clint Eastwood style maverick is evidence of the growing appeal of a Reagan-style conservatism, that section of the book did not hold together very well. Lowndes makes a compelling case that the way this conservative ideology developed was not foreordained, that it was contingent and shaped by particular politicians in ways that might have been different. And more importantly, he reminds us that such political and cultural shifts can happen again, that we are not permanently locked-in to existing political coalitions.
Perlstein's Before the Storm (tracing the rise of Goldwater) and Nixonland provide far more detail on this part of the story, but for those who don't want to tackle those tomes, Lowndes provides a crisp and readable overview of how modern right took shape in the midst of the ascendant liberalism of the New Deal, Civil Rights movement, and Great Society.
Perlstein's Before the Storm (tracing the rise of Goldwater) and Nixonland provide far more detail on this part of the story, but for those who don't want to tackle those tomes, Lowndes provides a crisp and readable overview of how modern right took shape in the midst of the ascendant liberalism of the New Deal, Civil Rights movement, and Great Society.
March 30, 2021
Read this on the Twitter recommendation of Cas Mudde. Lowndes gives a background of the shift towards a Southern base for the Republican Party from anti-New Deal agitators in the 40’s, the beginnings of GOP outreach in the South under Ike, through the embrace of conservative, anti-statist, and anti-black sentiment Goldwater to Nixon. He argues by Reagan this shift had moved the acceptable range of political discourse to the right. It more or less verifies what I’ve realized about Southern politics and the GOP. It’s disheartening, but the conversation can change for the better even if the same messaging gets more crude and gross as we go.
Want to Read
November 25, 2023Came to this via the bibliography in
“Brain Worms -
How Right-Wing Propaganda Destroys Reason, Conscience, and Democracy”
By Adam Glenn.
Available for free at Brainwormsbook.com
“Brain Worms -
How Right-Wing Propaganda Destroys Reason, Conscience, and Democracy”
By Adam Glenn.
Available for free at Brainwormsbook.com
March 8, 2025
Lowndes analysis of Charles Collins, to the National Review, and to Barry Goldwater were great, but his connection to Nixon, I feel like is shaky at best. Also, his inclusion of Asa Carter, although insane ( how do you go from being so racist you create your own more violent version of the klan to trying to fake being Native American)and worthy of discussion seems out of place with the rest of the book. Honestly, the book seems rushed.
July 9, 2024
This is an excellent exploration of how the Soyth went from supporting all sorts of federal programs to embracing a more libertarian identity. It’s more complex than one might think. The negative aspect of the book is the head scratching diversion into discussing the movie the Outlaw Josey Wales. While interesting in its own right, it was a bizarre turn and really detracted from the book overall.
February 17, 2024
Read for a political science class in university. Very biased. My gullible little liberal collegiate self ate it up. As an adult, I don’t see value in it.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews