Progressives on the Hudson by Michael A Armato

Progressives on the Hudson by Michael A Armato

Chronicles the civic endeavors of progressive political activists in New York's Hudson Valley.

Drawing on riveting firsthand accounts, Progressives on the Hudson highlights the influence of progressives in campaigns and elections, political parties, nongovernmental organizations, and the policy arena. Michael A. Armato explores these activities in the context of structural factors unique to the state of New York. Beyond simply serving as a study of one of New York's most historic regions, Armato shows that progressive civic engagement is not confined to America's largest cities. And, even more broadly, he provides readers with an in-depth discussion of progressive political ideology and illustrates that while progressives share some common ideas, they are by no means a monolith. Offering readers a rich description of civic life in the Hudson Valley, as told by progressive activists, and supplemented by local news sources and primary documents, Progressives on the Hudson skillfully contributes to our understanding of civic engagement and political ideology.

"At last, a study of political activism outside of the big cityArmato's fascinating look at grassroots progressive politics will benefit political party scholars and readers interested in the Empire State." — Harvey Schantz, editor of American Presidential Elections

"Progressives on the Hudson insightfully adds to the growing literature about small town politics in the United States. Armato shows that, contrary to conventional wisdom, many factors affect the politics of smaller communities, leading to important variations across communities. This is a significant contribution to our understanding of small-town politics post-Trump." — Neil Kraus, author of The Fantasy Economy: Neoliberalism, Inequality, and the Education Reform Movement

Michael A. Armato is Associate Professor of Political Science at Albright College.