Author Description

The Dominant Theme Of This Book Is Ideal And Reality, That Is, How Democratic Ideals Of Participation, Majority Rule, Minority Rights, And Equality Before The Law Are Met By The Realities Of Politics In A State That, Through Most Of Its History, Has Been A One-party State-not Always The Same Party-and That Emphasizes The Values Of Individualism And Traditionalism Far More Than A Moralistic Political Culture. Two Other Themes Help To Shape The Book: Persistent But Not Unchallenged Conservatism And Conflict Arising From Various Political Factions And Ethnic, Racial, And Economic Diversity In The State. As Political Scientists, We Are Trained To Be Analysts, Not Apologists, For The System. Thus, In Chapter After Chapter, You Will See Questions Raised About Whether Political Processes And Practices In Texas Meet The Test Of Democratic Morality And Suggestions About How To Improve The Texas Political System. We Also Examine The Evolution Of Today's Political Conservatism And The State's Political Disagreements And Their Consequences For Public Policy--