by Melissa Mouritsen, Kent D. Redfield and James D. Nowlan
University of Illinois Press, 2024
eISBN: 978-0-252-05675-8 | Cloth: 978-0-252-04587-5 | Paper: 978-0-252-08797-4
Library of Congress Classification JK5716.N68 2024
Dewey Decimal Classification 320.4773

ABOUT THIS BOOK | AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY | TOC
ABOUT THIS BOOK

Shifting demographics. Downstate versus Chicago. Billionaires and bribery. Even veteran observers need a roadmap to track Illinois’ ever-changing political landscape. Melissa Mouritsen, Kent D. Redfield, and James D. Nowlan provide an up-to-date primer on Prairie State politics, government, and policies. Features include:



  • Discussions of recent events like the 2015-2017 budget disaster, the response to COVID-19, and the fall of longtime House Speaker Michael Madigan;

  • New chapters on corruption, social policies, and the political rules of the game;

  • Perspectives on the nuts-and-bolts of campaign funding, the ways political actors acquire power or influence, and many other topics;

  • Close examinations of complex issues like the state’s increased polarization and its ongoing fiscal recovery.


Fully revised and expanded, <i>Illinois Politics</i> blends detailed information with expert analysis to offer an essential resource for citizens, students, and public servants alike.