Newman, Patrick2022-10-122022-10-122019NEWMAN, P. (2019). Taking Government out of Politics: Murray Rothbard on Political and Local Reform during the Progressive Era. Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics, 22(1), 49–67.1098-3708https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=shib&db=bth&AN=137860952&site=eds-live&scope=site&custid=s5615486http://hdl.handle.net/11416/828This paper analyzes and elaborates on what Murray Rothbard would have included in Chapter 10 of his nine-chapter manuscript on the Progressive Era (Rothbard 2017). In Chapter 10, Rothbard planned to describe the political and local reforms of the fourth party system (1896-1932). The reforms included voter registration, ballot changes, direct election of senators, the primary system, attacks on machine politics, the institutionalization of civil service, and the expansion of city governments. While many historians have argued that these changes were designed to expand democracy and reduce corruption, Rothbard would have shown how they were intended to restrict democracy and centralize power in the hands of established elites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics is the property of Ludwig von Mises Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)enMunicipal governmentCivil serviceArticle