Morning Glories

Paper Summary:

In this review of the book "Morning Glories: Municipal Reform in the Southwest", the writer maintains that what makes this book so special is the warning it gives to readers about the needs for limiting the role of industry in politics. The writer points out that given the negative associations with both major parties, independence may seem like a positive value. However, the writer notes that the increased non partisanship in the Southwest did not lead to a more representative structure of government, and the civic 'reform' managers were more, rather than less influenced by wealthy interests that made up a minority of the population. The writer concludes that Bridges offers no solutions to the problems of today, but she does raise troubling questions about contemporary trends in American political life through her study of the regional politics of the American past.

From the Paper:

"Of course, today the legacies of municipal reform movements are felt everywhere in the United States, most notably in the nation's strong civil service system, based upon tests and merit rather than patronage, independent voter registration, and other things we take for granted--but only in the Southwest were reformers truly blessed with victories at the polls. The value of Bridges' book is that it regionalizes American civic development, rather than suggesting American urban and suburban politics proceeds as a seamless whole. Bridges creates a historical narrative that traces the development of reform from the 19th century Progressives to the grass roots reformers of the 1970s and 1980s. In contrast to the corruption of the North, and even in contrast to the common self-image of the Southwest as characterized by 'pure' government only on small-scale suburban levels, a number of major Southwestern cities, such as San Diego, were dominated by nonpartisan mayors and city governments, the result of reformer's demand nonpartisan elections."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bridges, Amy. Morning Glories: Municipal Reform in the Southwest. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1997.

More papers on Morning Glories:

• Analytical Essay # 71094 : "Good Morning Midnight"
• Argumentative Essay # 94938 : "The Morning After Pill"
• Argumentative Essay # 91282 : "The Morning-After Pill"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: