Need Help from WSN

Dear Friends of WSN,

        I have been subscribed to this group for several years and I guess
it is my turn to ask for some help. I am a geography grad student working
on my dissertation on voting patterns in North Dakota (ND) from 1889 to
present. Besides looking at the internal voting coalitions that have
developed in ND's history in gubernatorial and presidential elections, I
am also examining the dynamics between local-national politics (through
elections) of a peripheral place (in this case an agricultural
hinterland). 

        Although ND is not thought of as a radical state now, it has had
some radical agrarian movements in its history. Most notable was the
Nonpartisan League (NPL) 1915-1922, a socialist lead movement that
captured the Republican state party through the direct primary because
neither party had much sympathy for their main constituents: the farmers.
Although the NPL control of state government was short lived, some of the
policies enacted by the NPL to help reduce their economic dependency on
outside interests are still functioning today. For example, ND is the only
state with a state owned bank (the Bank of North Dakota) for low interest
loans to farmers, a state owned grain elevator, and state owned mill that
produces flour that is still sold commercially (Dakota Maid flour). This
may be the only state made product, excluding license plates and other
products made in prisons, sold commercially.  In my mind, this could be
what Wallerstein has termed a "revolt of the periphery" except on a
smaller scale and within a federal system of government.  In my case it
would be a revolt of a peripheral state within a core country.

        I need help finding literature on politics and economic
relationships of peripheral places especially peripheral places in core
countries.   Are there any types of models or case studies of peripheral
areas that could be of use?     

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Bob Watrel
University of Nebraska