"At a time when ideology is in decline but parties are increasingly polarized, it would seem that the idea of state sovereignty is no longer linked to a conservative view of the Constitution but is very much a doctrine that adapts to the political objective of the day. From this point of view, Merriman’s study is not only an investigation of conservative strategies but may constitute one of the first studies of the new ways in which state governments (red or blue) protect their interests vis-a-vis the federal government and, perhaps, a new way to safeguard American federalism."

Ilaria Di Gioia | Publius

"Ben Merriman has written an informed and engaging book on how American federalism is being altered yet again, and how the agents and dynamics influence that change…Overall, this is a valuable book for understanding the movement, tools, and strategies state officials developed to oppose federal policies, and which are currently reshaping American federalism. The writing is clear, concise, and engaging. It is appropriate for scholars in the field, and graduate classes seeking to understand those tools along with the background that led to their development."
 

Troy E. Smith | American Review of Public Administration

“…an incredibly timely look at the punctuated changes that have restructured American politics in recent years…The writing is engaging yet objective, which serves to heighten the intellectual importance of the subject at hand.”
 

Robert J. McGrath | Journal of Public Administration Research And Theory

"I find the general gist of the book – focusing on how states have attempted to resist federal government policies that they disagree with – compelling. The examples given, especially with regards to voting rights and the Balanced Budget Compact, effectively illustrate Merriman’s key arguments...this book is very much worth reading and is strongly recommended."

Benjamin Kassow | Law and Politics Book Review

"The book’s main strength is the author’s ability to expertly trace the evolution of intergovernmental relations to a complex web of political, legal, and administrative developments and to elegantly situate that analysis within various distinct scholarly literatures…a carefully researched, persuasively argued treatise on an exceptionally important topic."
 

Shanna Rose | Perspectives on Politics

"In Conservative Innovators, Merriman consciously eschews the role of social theorist, choosing instead to play the role of political meteorologist. (This is perhaps most apparent in the book’s concluding chapter, in which the author ruminates on the continuity of political life under the Trump administration and the future of American federalism more generally.) Toward this end, he selectively draws on theoretical concepts to help discern the path of the coming storm. . . . Where the author really shines is in his attention to the complex interplay between administrative and judicial behavior within the federalist system."

Adam Slez | American Journal of Sociology