Review from Choice
"This welcome book provides a much needed update on the national political influence of organized labor. In a fair and balanced assessment Dark demonstrates labor's continuing influence, even in the face of a general labor decline. He concludes that labor's clout is centered on longstanding ties within the Democratic Party. Dark concludes that labor's continued prominence rests with an institutional convergence of power between labor leaders and Democratic politicians. This institutionalization exists on two fronts: the electoral and later the policy-planning areas. Electoral connections seem strongest, indeed in many ways capturing the Democrats. Alternate chapters review the Johnson, Carter, and Clinton administrations. Two chapters deal with the struggles of labor and Democrats to regain the presidency. The historical interpretation works well because the author relies on a consistent set of influential variables from setting to setting and time to time. Among the explanatory variables are central bargaining capacity of both unions and political allies, office holding by the allies, and labor union aggregation of other interests. The extent to which these variables exist determine whether unions seek broad reform goals or more narrow issue-by-issue wins. Recommended to students of interest groups, political parties, public policy, and general American politics. Upper-division undergraduates and above."
--W.P. Browne, Central Michigan University