Paths Out of Dixie: The Democratization of Authoritarian Enclaves in America's Deep South, 1944-1972

The transformation of the American South—from authoritarian to democratic rule—is the most important political development since World War II. It has re-sorted voters into parties, remapped presidential elections, and helped polarize Congress. Most important, it is the final step in America's democratization. Paths Out of Dixie illuminates this sea change by analyzing the democratization experiences of Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina.


Robert Mickey argues that Southern states, from...