"The authors of Alaska Politics and Public Policy do an admirable job of breaking down the extremely complex and often contradictory aspects of Alaskan politics, policy, and residents' attitudes. Their writing style avoids too much jargon, and when specific language is needed, they provide useful definitions. . . . Certainly, as a resource on understanding contemporary issues in Alaskan political culture, this book is a must-read for academics, students, and politicians concerned with the state and its future."
—Pacific Northwest Quarterly
"The end result of this enormous body of facts and commentary is an encyclopedic work."
—Alaska History
Politics in Alaska have changed significantly since the last major book on the subject was published more than twenty years ago, with the rise and fall of Sarah Palin and the rise and fall of oil prices being but two of the many developments to alter the political landscape.
This book, the most comprehensive on the subject to date, focuses on the question of how beliefs, institutions, personalities, and power interact to shape Alaska politics and public policy. Drawing on those interactions, the contributors explain how and why certain issues get dealt with successfully and others unsuccessfully, and why some issues are taken up quickly while others are not addressed at all. This comprehensive guide to the political climate of Alaska will be essential to anyone studying the politics of America’s largest— and in some ways most unusual—state.
