Don't Make No Waves...Don't Back No Losers: An Insiders' Analysis of the Daley Machine

by Milton L. Rakove

Book Overview

Tis is simply the best book that has been written about politics in Chicago. In the words of Andrew M. Greeley, "It is a very astute and dispassionate analysis of Chicago political life--far and away the best I have ever seen. Rakove is without illusions about either the right or the left." Rakove brings to his study an intimate knowledge of Chicago and the Daley machine, a practitioner's understanding of street-level politics, and a scholar's...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0253202027
• ISBN13: 9780253202024
• Release Date: September 1976
• Publisher: Indiana University Press
• Length: 296 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 8.9"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

An Academician's Inside Look at the Chicago Machine:

An excellent analysis of Chicago politics and government under Richard J. Daley Sr. Describes the underpinnings of "machine" government from the perspective of classic political theory, emphasizing the strengths of its democratic process while acknowledging the negative impact on those who were disenfranchised under Daley's system (principally African-Americans and "reformers".) Best read with Mike Royko's "Boss: Richard J. Daley of Chicago," for two well-written and well-reasearched contrasting views. (Also check out Robert Caro's "The Power Broker," about New York's Robert Moses -- probably the best book available on machine-style politics).

A Good but Flawed Study

Rakove's study of the late 1960's early 1970's Chicago machine is biased due to the fact that he studied the Mafia-controlled 25th ward, thus studying a ward that had a much higher local authority than most wards.