A bold new history of modern conservatism that finds its origins in the populist right-wing politics of the 1990s 
 
Ronald Reagan has long been lionized for building a conservative coalition sustained by an optimistic vision of American exceptionalism， small government， and free markets。 But as historian Nicole Hemmer reveals， the Reagan coalition was short-lived; it fell apart as soon as its charismatic leader left office。 In the 1990s — a decade that has yet to be recognized as the breeding ground for today’s polarizing politics — changing demographics and the emergence of a new political-entertainment media fueled the rise of combative far-right politicians and pundits。 These partisans， from Pat Buchanan and Newt Gingrich to Rush Limbaugh and Laura Ingraham， forged a new American right that emphasized anti-globalism， appeals to white resentment， and skepticism about democracy itself。  
 
Partisans is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the crisis of American politics today。