Inside the Carnival: Unmasking Louisiana Politics

ISBN: 0807131989

Author: Parent, Wayne

Condition: New

With both an entertainers eye and a social scientists rigor, Wayne Parent subjects Louisianas politics to rational and empirical analysis, seeking and finding coherent reasons for the states well-known unique history. He resists resorting to vague hand-waving about exoticism, while at the same time he brings to life the juicy stories that illustrate his points. Pa rents main theme is that Louisianas ethnic mix, natural resources, and geography define a culture that in turn produces its unique political theater. He gives special attention to immigration patterns and Louisianas abundant supply of oil and gas, as well as to the fascinating variations in political temperaments in different parts of the state. Most important, he delivers thorough and concise explanations of Louisianas unusual legal system, odd election rules, overwrought constitutional history, convoluted voting patterns, and unmatched record of political corruption. In a new epilogue, Parent discusses how the hurricanes of 2005 will affect state politics and politicians as Louisiana struggles to regain its footing in the New South.