Early life and education
- Born 1942 in the United States.
- Received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Texas at Austin.
- Earned a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Texas at Austin in 1969.
Academic career
- Began his teaching career at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he served as an assistant and later associate professor (1970‑1975).
- Joined the political science faculty at the University of South Carolina (USC) in 1975.
- Held the position of Professor of Political Science at USC until his retirement in 2009, after which he was designated Professor Emeritus.
- Served as director of USC’s Center for the Study of the Southern Century, focusing on interdisciplinary research on the Southern United States.
Research focus and contributions
- Specializes in American politics with an emphasis on Southern politics, party realignment, racial politics, and electoral behavior.
- Known for analyzing the transformation of the South from a Democratic stronghold to a competitive or Republican‑leaning region during the latter half of the 20th century.
- Frequently utilizes quantitative election data, public‑opinion surveys, and historical analysis to examine voting patterns and demographic shifts.
Selected bibliography (co‑authored works are noted)
- The Vital South: How Presidents Are Elected (with Earl Black, 1992).
- The Rise of Southern Republicans (with Earl Black, 1999).
- Southern Politics in the New South (edited with James McGann, 2006).
- Numerous peer‑reviewed articles in journals such as The American Political Science Review, Political Research Quarterly, and The Journal of Politics.
Honors and professional service
- Served as President of the Southern Political Science Association (1998‑1999).
- Received the Southern Political Science Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2012).
- Held editorial responsibilities for the Southern Political Review and contributed to the American National Election Studies data projects.
Impact
Merle Black’s scholarship has been instrumental in shaping contemporary understandings of Southern electoral dynamics and the broader processes of party realignment in the United States. His collaborative works, especially those with his brother, Earl Black, are widely cited in political‑science literature and have informed both academic discourse and public commentary on American elections.
References
- University of South Carolina Faculty Directory, Department of Political Science.
- Black, Merle F.; Black, Earl. The Vital South: How Presidents Are Elected. (1992).
- Black, Merle F.; Black, Earl. The Rise of Southern Republicans. (1999).
- Southern Political Science Association, “Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients.” (2012).
