Boundary Control Subnational Authoritarianism in Federal Democracies

"Gibson's conceptualization of boundary control as a key mechanism that facilitates the maintenance of subnational authoritarianism in the context of national level democracies is a foundational contribution to an important and growing literature. The explanation of dynamics in three very different cases - the "Solid South" in the United States, Argentina, and Mexico - is compelling, and the book is beautifully written. This is a must read for anybody interested in the complexities of democratization." - Evelyne Huber, Morehead Alumni Distinguished Professor of Political Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill "Professor Gibson's ambitious new book involves a far-reaching reassessment of some core assumptions in comparative politics. It contests the bias toward the 'national-level' unit of analysis, and proposes a more conceptually sophisticated understanding of territorial politics, with its specific logic and consequences. This approach is grounded on an insightful examination of some major instances that are not normally juxtaposed. In particular, Gibson looks at the U.S. political system through a distinctive and illuminating comparative lens. This is a bold contribution likely to provoke a lively debate." - Laurence Whitehead, Senior Research Fellow in Politics, Nuffield College, University of Oxford