# Baptists and Bootleggers The idea behind "baptists and bootleggers" is a concept often used in political and economic analysis to explain the coalition between two seemingly opposing groups that have a common interest in achieving a particular outcome. The term originated from the Prohibition era in the United States but has since been applied to various contexts. The term "baptists" refers to the moralistic and publicly visible groups or individuals who advocate for certain regulations or policies based on their moral or religious beliefs. In the case of the Prohibition era, the baptists were the temperance movement and religious organizations that pushed for the banning of alcohol due to their moral objections. On the other hand, the term "bootleggers" refers to individuals or groups who engage in illegal activities to profit from the prohibition or regulation being advocated by the baptists. In the context of Prohibition, bootleggers were the people who illegally produced, distributed, and sold alcohol. The interesting aspect of the baptists and bootleggers coalition is that even though they appear to have opposing goals, they often end up supporting each other. The baptists advocate for the regulation or prohibition of certain activities based on moral grounds, while the bootleggers benefit financially from the illegal market that arises as a result of those regulations. The relationship between baptists and bootleggers can be seen as an example of "strange bedfellows." While the baptists may genuinely believe in the moral righteousness of their cause, the bootleggers support their efforts because it creates a profitable black market. The baptists provide the moral and public support, while the bootleggers supply the goods or services that are in demand due to the regulation. This concept has been extended beyond Prohibition to explain similar coalitions in other areas, such as environmental regulations (where environmental groups and certain industries might find common ground) or tobacco control (where health organizations and some tobacco companies might have aligned interests in promoting certain regulations). Overall, the idea behind "baptists and bootleggers" highlights the complex dynamics that can emerge when seemingly opposing groups find common ground based on their respective motivations and interests, resulting in an unexpected alliance. --- Date: 20230702 Links to: Tags: References: * [Bootleggers and Baptists - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bootleggers_and_Baptists)