"As the states gain prominence in the political arena and rural areas increase in population, a new perception of the importance of rural state politics is called for. Frank M. Bryan investigates political processes in three rural states–Montana, Mississippi, and Vermont–representing the western, southern, and eastern regions of the United States. Using these states to note similarities and variations in the model, he describes how the political systems of rural states operate overall and then presents a detailed comparative analysis of the three states in terms of political participation, parties and elections, and legislative policymaking. In a final essay he identifies the kinds of political patterns that may be found in rural states in the future. One major contribution of the book lies in its reliance on extensive data sets, used for the first time to provide in-depth comparative treatment of rural states"