State Building through Reputation Building: Coalitions of Esteem and Program Innovation in the National Postal System, 1883–1913

Daniel Carpenter · 2000 · Studies in American Political Development

Summary. The Post Office Department shaped American state development from 1883 to 1913 by building institutional reputation through coalitions of support. As the largest employer in peacetime America, the POD extended federal reach across the nation, enabling newspaper distribution and political communication. The department drove administrative reform by addressing patronage, corruption, and monopolies while expanding services including banking, roads, air transport, and telegraph management.

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Carpenter, D.. (2000). State Building through Reputation Building: Coalitions of Esteem and Program Innovation in the National Postal System, 1883–1913. Studies in American Political Development. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0898588x00003382

@article{carpenter-2000-state-building-reputation-building-coalitions,
  title   = {State Building through Reputation Building: Coalitions of Esteem and Program Innovation in the National Postal System, 1883–1913},
  author  = {Daniel Carpenter},
  journal = {Studies in American Political Development},
  year    = {2000},
  doi     = {10.1017/s0898588x00003382},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1017/s0898588x00003382}
}

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AU  - Daniel Carpenter
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Details

DOI: 10.1017/s0898588x00003382
Countries: United States
Regions: North America
Categories: policy, regional-innovation-systems, general-innovation
Added: 2026-04-28