Due to my father’s involvement in local politics, I was excited when election time came around.
Even little children were showered with gifts, such as candy, sun visors, balloons, pens – and the
list goes on. Seeing the party logo in bold letters on every imaginable item became an everyday
experience. But it was after my grandfather had died that I had the most memorable experience
concerning the German party system. My father had kept his party membership certificate, a
book with smooth leather binding and a black, red, and golden tassel dangling from its spine. I
asked my father whether my grandfather was still a member; he shock his head and told me: “No,
a party membership expires once the person has died.“
It is striking, that this kind of regulating party identification by institutional and legal
means is non-existent in the United States. What theories then describe the exceptional
conceptualization of party identification in the American context and how has party identification
developed over time in the U.S.? To answer these questions, major theories of party identification
will be presented and the decline of party identification will be analyzed. In conclusion, evidence
will show that American parties in the electorate are in a state of decline, which will have major
consequences for the political and social landscape during the next few decades.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 The Concept of Party Identification
2.1 The Michigan School Model
2.2 Rational Choice Theory
2.3 The Multidimensional Model
2.4 Difficulties in Measurement
3 The Decline of Party Identification
3.1 Empirical Data
3.2 Socio-Economics and Party Identification
3.3 Education and Party Identification
3.4 Issue Voting and Candidate Voting
3.4.1 The Concept of Issue Voting
3.4.2 The Concept of Candidate Voting
4 Consequences of Declining Partisanship
4.1 Electoral Impact
4.2 Candidate and Partisan Images
4.3 Alternative Partisan Activism – Election Campaigns
5 Conclusion
Research Objective and Core Topics
The primary objective of this work is to examine the theoretical underpinnings of party identification within the American political context and to analyze the empirical evidence regarding its decline. The research aims to explore how various factors—such as changing socio-economic landscapes, media influence, and the shift toward candidate-centered politics—have contributed to this erosion and the subsequent implications for the electoral and social landscape.
- The theoretical conceptualization of party identification (Michigan School, Rational Choice, and Multidimensional models).
- Empirical trends demonstrating the decline of partisanship in the U.S. since the 1950s.
- The impact of education, socio-economics, and shifting voter attitudes on party loyalty.
- The emergence of issue voting and candidate-centered voting as alternatives to traditional partisanship.
- The consequences of declining partisanship on voter volatility and election campaigning.
Excerpt from the Book
3.4.1 The Concept of Issue Voting
In order to be able to discuss the impact of issues on voting behavior and partisanship, it is necessary to specify the term “issues”. For our topic, the definition by Morris P. Fiorina will be sufficient: “Loosely speaking, an issue is any matter (i.e., subject, charge, promise) about which the parties disagree during a campaign“ (Fiorina 1981, 130). According to this definition, it is obvious that the image of a party and the image of a candidate are closely linked to political issues. On the other hand,
“[…] candidates can establish issue positions or alter their appeals through their presentation of issues in ways that are not applicable to personal images or party characteristics. Candidates cannot change their experience or religion or party, but they can take new stands on issues or attempt to change the salience of issues” (Flanigan 1991, 122).
This development is opposed to the situation in the 1950s when, according to Campbell at al., Americans were unfamiliar with important domestic and foreign policy questions and inconsistent in their issue positions and relied on their party identification in their voting decision (Campbell et al. 1960, ch. 8-9).
The rise of issue awareness can be explained by several factors: the already mentioned rise in educational standards and the spread of broadcast media as well as specific events in the second half of the 20th century, namely the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. According to several authors, the protests against the Vietnam War and for more more civil rights served as initiating events for issue awareness (Hill 1983, 38-50).
This tendency to identify with issues rather than with parties, as far as electoral decisions are concerned, naturally led to a decline in partisanship during the last decades.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter outlines the motivation for the study, contrasting the American political system with European models and setting the stage for analyzing the decline of partisanship.
2 The Concept of Party Identification: The chapter evaluates three major theoretical frameworks—the Michigan School model, Rational Choice theory, and the Multidimensional model—to understand how party attachment is defined.
3 The Decline of Party Identification: This section presents empirical data and theoretical models, including socio-economic factors, education, and the rise of issue and candidate-centered voting, to explain the downward trend in partisanship.
4 Consequences of Declining Partisanship: The chapter explores the broader impacts of dealignment, specifically focusing on voter volatility, the shift toward candidate-focused politics, and the transformation of election campaigns.
5 Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the theoretical and empirical findings, summarizing the reasons and consequences of the decline in party identification in the United States.
Keywords
Partisanship, Party Identification, American Politics, Voter Volatility, Rational Choice Theory, Michigan School Model, Multidimensional Model, Issue Voting, Candidate-centered Politics, Dealignment, Electoral Behavior, Political Participation, Campaign Professionalization, Socio-economic Status, Political Attachment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this publication?
The publication examines the phenomenon of declining party identification in the United States, investigating why and how voters are becoming less attached to traditional political parties.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The core themes include political psychology, the evolution of election campaigning, the impact of media and education on voter behavior, and the structural shifts in American political parties.
What is the primary research question?
The work seeks to answer how party identification is conceptualized in the U.S., how it has developed over time, and what consequences its decline has for the nation's political and social landscape.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The author uses a literature-based theoretical analysis combined with an examination of empirical historical data and statistical trends regarding voter behavior and identification scales.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the text?
The main body addresses the theoretical definition of partisanship, empirical data on its decline, the role of socio-economics and education, the rise of issue-based and candidate-based voting, and the repercussions for electoral outcomes and campaign strategies.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key concepts include partisanship, dealignment, candidate-centered politics, voter volatility, and party identification models.
How does the author define "party identification" compared to formal membership?
The text clarifies that in the U.S., voters typically identify with a party psychologically without formal membership, unlike in European systems where party affiliation is institutionalized.
What role does the "Multidimensional Model" play in the author's argument?
The Multidimensional model, introduced by Herbert F. Weisberg, is used to challenge the single-dimensional perspective of the Michigan School by allowing for multiple identifications, such as being both a party supporter and an Independent.
Why does the author argue that election campaigns have changed?
The author argues that the rise of professional, media-centered campaigns has alienated potential volunteers, creating a downward spiral that further weakens party bonds and voter engagement.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2005, Six Feet Under - The Death of American Parties, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/153855
