The Political Culture of the New West

"This book helps us better understand the terrain—shifting as it is every day—upon which the histories of both the once and future West will be written."—Reviews in American History

"An important collection of recent western political history. . . . The book compellingly argues that claims to western authenticity reflect a regional political culture deeply influential in both western and national politics."—Western Historical Quarterly

"Roche has effectively harmonized apparently disparate specialties—business, popular culture, environment, ethnicity, and agriculture, to name a few—into an edgy collection of “New Wests” relentlessly reinventing themselves."—Journal of Arizona History

"The thoroughly researched essays in this volume speak to many of the components of South Dakota political culture and will provide an invaluable guide to historians seeking to develop these themes in their research on the state’s role in the story of the American West."—South Dakota History

"Most collections of essays are a mish-mash, uneven in quality and thematically disjointed. But the pieces gathered in [this book] are original, thoughtful, well written, and suggestive. . . . The compilation is addressed as much to issues of the modern west as to issues of the past, and it should win applause from all students of the American West, not just historians. Although the book focuses on how regionalism has helped to define American politics, it is not a book about elections, parties, or even policies as much as it is about the changing social and economic contexts of politics. This book provides novel and persuasive answers to the old question of why the concept of a separate ‘American West’ has such enduring value."—Kansas History

"A very interesting volume . . . brings together twelve essays. . . . Roche and the assembled authors are all engaged in an effort to look behind the voting returns at the basic values and social patterns that underlie electoral politics. . . . Reflective readers can use this book to help think about the cultural values and changes that will underlie election day decisions."—Oregon Historical Quarterly

“A signature compendium. Taken together the chapters elucidate the variety and vitality of political cultures and show how they have shaped the American West and the American nation in familiar and surprising ways over the last three-quarters of a century.”—Stephen Aron, executive director, Institute for the Study of the American West, Autry National Center

“A fine collection of well-written essays that address important topics in western political history.”—Brian Cannon, author of Remaking the Agrarian Dream: The New Deal's Rural Resettlement Program in the Mountain West