MERLE BLACK
POLITICAL SCIENCE
(o) 404-727-6570
(h) 404-728-8996
merle.black@emory.edu

Merle Black is the Asa G. Candler Professor of Politics and Government at Emory University. He, along with his twin brother Earl, is the foremost authority on politics in the South, particularly the rise of the Republican Party. One of the nation's most incisive commentators on Southern politics, Black is often called upon by national media to discuss American national government, Southern politics, and political parties and elections.

"The Rise of Southern Republicans" (Belknap/Harvard 2002), the Blacks' third book on Southern politics, documents how dramatically the political tide has changed in the South. Described by The Economist as "the definitive work on that important historical shift," the book illustrates how the Republican Party’s inroads into Southern precincts have transformed American politics. This book recently won the V.O. Key Award, a highly competitive, national award presented to authors of the most outstanding book on Southern politics.

Citing survey and exit poll data, the Blacks show that fully 70 percent of white conservatives identified themselves as Republicans in 2000 when just 32 years ago, barely 20 percent of white conservatives identified with the GOP. Over the same period, the percentage of white moderates identifying themselves as Democrats has dropped from nearly 60 percent to just over 30 percent.

What all this means for national politics is that, to win national elections, the Republicans no longer are forced to draw massive majorities in Northern states to offset their equally large deficits in the South, according to the Blacks.

The 2004 national elections are shaping up to be exciting; Black can discuss the crowded presidential field, poll results and how various candidates are likely to fare in the South.
B.A. (1964), Harvard College; M.A.(1968), Ph.D.(1972), University of Chicago.