Southern Realignment: Hunting Where the Ducks Are w/ Eric K. Ward (Part Two)
Summary
This episode examines the 1960s Southern realignment, analyzing how Nixon’s “Southern Strategy” used coded language like “law and order” to capture white voters disaffected by civil rights. Guests Nicole Hemmer, Kelly Carter Jackson, and Eric K. Ward discuss the shift from overt racism to institutionalized political polarization. They also explore the rise of Black political power and conclude by arguing that a “popular front” is necessary to defend democratic processes against current authoritarian threats.
Topics discussed
Introduction to the Southern Realignment series
Guest introductions and Eric Ward's award
Defining the Southern Strategy and the 1968 election
Kevin Phillips' strategy and nationalizing the approach
The 1972 election map and national shift
Internal Democratic debates and the Radical Center
Coded language: Law and order in the North
White supremacy disguised as rationality
The War on Drugs as a political tool
The slow pace of realignment in border states
Immigration reform and the Carter presidency
Black voters and the rise of Black political power
Multiracial leadership and the Rainbow Coalition
Backlash against inclusive democracy
Polarization and the definition of democracy
Eric Ward on the next realignment and popular fronts
Closing remarks and show credits
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