First published 1996
The Republican Party stands at a crossroads as veteran political correspondents examine how conservative activism rebuilt the GOP from the ground up. Balz traces the transformation from electoral defeats to renewed power, following grassroots organizers who channeled popular frustration into political action. The narrative reveals how protest movements evolved into effective campaigns, reshaping party strategy and messaging. Local activists emerge as central figures, their efforts creating networks that would redefine American conservatism. The authors analyze tactical decisions that turned opposition energy into governing coalitions. This political resurrection story captures the mechanics of party renewal and the forces that drive electoral change. The book concludes with an assessment of whether this conservative resurgence can sustain itself as a governing philosophy.
Genres: political-science, 21st-century, activism, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: party-renewal, political-resurrection
Period: 21st-Century
424 pages · Hardcover · Little Brown & Co