Review by Choice Review
Luebke, an academic sociologist and legislator, offers an excellent portrait of electoral politics at the state government level in North Carolina since WW II, focusing primarily on the last 20 years. This revision of a 1990 work was needed because the author has since won a seat in the North Carolina (N.C.) legislature, and because in 1994 the Republicans won the N.C. lower house for the first time in 96 years. This class and ideological analysis denotes political positions as populist, modernist, and traditionalist. Luebke discusses the three geographical-political sections of N.C. but focuses on Piedmont and Coastal Plain. He highlights recent state political campaigns, analyzes US Sen. Jesse Helms 's power base and positions, and details policy formulation in the legislature and leadership changes over time. The volume explains North Carolina's institutional white racism, considers women and politics, and devotes a chapter to antilabor union bias. One section examines how legislative political factions support the needs and demands of the state's powerful corporations. A perspective for the concerns of the poor and others who need public assistance is also included. This well-documented volume is written in a clear and simple style and is highly recommended for public, college, and university libraries. L. E. Noble Jr.; emeritus, Clark Atlanta University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
