- Southern politicians choose “law and order” language for smart reasons. This gave them key advantages. The language sounded race-neutral. After the Civil Rights Act, politicians could not use openly racist language. “Law and order” helped reach more voters. Politicians could reframe civil rights protests as criminal acts. They said protesters broke the law. This made opponents look like they supported law enforcement, not racial hierarchy. The people could feel they stood for stability and safety without admitting racial motivations.
- The Southern Strategy still influenced American politics. It has evolved but remains powerful. Politicians still link social problems to individuals rather than structural issues. They emphasize punishment over rehabilitation while using coded racial appeals. Debates over drug policy and policing follow the same pattern from 1960s. People’s positions correlate with their racial views even when race is not mentioned. The Southern Strategy created a template for maintaining racial hierarchy through race-neutral language. This approach has proven durable across different issues like welfare policy and voting rights.
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