Party Development in the South: The Case for Southern Exceptionalism

THIS ARTICLE CONSIDERS THE EXCEPTIONAL NATURE OF SOUTHERN--PARTICULARLY REPUBLICAN--POLITICS. CONTRARY TO SOME RECENT OPINION, THE ARTICLE MAINTAINS THAT SOUTHERN REPUBLICAN PARTIES REMAIN DISTINCT FROM BOTH SOUTHERN DEMOCRATIC PARTIES AND THOSE OF THE REST OF THE NATION. THIS UNIQUENESS LENDS INCREASED IMPORTANCE TO PRIMARY COMPETITION. THE TRUNCATED FORM OF REPUBLICAN PARTY DEVELOPMENT WHICH INTRODUCES CANDIDATES AND PLATFORMS IN GENERAL ELECTIONS RATHER THAN AT THE GRASS ROOTS LEVEL OF PRIMARY COMPETITION IS HARMFUL TO THE REPUBLICAN CAUSE IN THE SOUTH.