Political Boulwarism: Bargaining During the Reagan Years

THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES BARGAINING DURING THE REAGAN YEARS. IT LABELS REAGAN AS A PRACTICAL CONSERVATIVE (ANTI-UNION) AND SUGGESTS THAT HE COMBINED PRACTICAL CONSERVATISM WITH AN EFFECTIVE "BOULWARISTIC" APPEAL TO WORKERS WHO MAY BE OTHERWISE RESISTANT TO THE IDEOLOGICAL PROGRAM OF THE PRACTICAL RIGHT. BOULWARISM IS DEFINED AND DESCRIBED AND THEN THE ARTICLE ILLUSTRATES HOW REAGAN USED THIS TECHNIQUE DURING HIS PRESIDENCY. IT THEN BRIEFLY EXPLORES THE DUKAKIS, DUNLOP, AND BUSH'S USE OF BARGAINING AN AN IMMENSELY POWERFUL SOCIAL TOOL.