Division of Political Power in New York City Since World War II

The Late 1940's and 1950's and Wagner

The 1960's and Lindsay

The 1970's and Financial Crisis

The 1980's and Koch

The 1990's to 2001 and Guiliani

Success in New York City politics is about building coalitions. Since World War II, the Democratic machine has been in decline. Without an organized institution, politicians must find a way to appeal to multiple groups. Often this means alienating other groups. Politicians who can build a winning coalition find it difficult to maintain it because the ethnic and social dynamic of the city is constantly changing. The Jews are the single most important group today, but others groups are gaining increasing influence. Below is a summary of politics in New York since the machine went into decline.

The Late 1940's and 1950's and Wagner

Following World War II, the Tammany Hall political...
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