The phantom of the Opera

Library Journal

In his influential earlier book, The Permanent Campaign , Blumenthal argued that, as a result of the decline of political parties, governance and campaigning were no longer distinguishable aspects of political life. Here he examines the consequences of this phenomenon, describing how various groups of conservative ideologues have assumed power under the Reagan Administration and established ``a particular mode of ideological politics'' as the salient feature of contemporary politics. Others have advanced similar arguments, and the question is whether this change is temporary (Richard Reeves, The Reagan Detour, LJ 10/15/85) or permanent (Thomas Fergusen and Joel Rogers, Right Turn , Hill & Wang, 1986). Whatever the answer, Blumenthal brings new insight to a fundamental transformation of American politics. Edward C. Dreyer, Political Science Dept., Univ. of Tulsa, Okla.