The following term paper deals with the phenomena of realignment in the political party system of the United States. Although America’s party system is the oldest in the modern world it is marked by a deep distrust in parties leading back to the founding fathers who said that parties would only bring riots and chaos to the state. Political parties have existed on national level since the 18th century. And the two-party system which had been crystallised during this time, is still working in present days. The political parties in the United States became the mean for purpose; parties were to elect, to mobilise voters, not to govern There have already been amazingly modern party structures in the 1840s, a whole generation before such structures came up in Great Britain. In 1848 the first National Committee was built by the Democratic Party. And until the 20th century direct premises have been introduced. However, nothing much changed in the party’s organising structures since that time, and until today financial support is mainly made by a small group of giant donations. But one of the biggest differences to European parties is that American parties do not have mass memberships. The voters are ideological linked to their party, but they are not fixed to it. This link could be a basis for such a phenomenon as the realignment is. Realignments are essential for the American two-party system, and during history there have been four such realignments. In the following I will discuss the historical background of realignments and the Party Systems and I will try to find arguments whether there is a present realignment in favour to the Republican Party.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Realignment definitions
3. Historical Realignments and the five Party Systems
4. Realignment in favour of the Republican Party?
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
Target Objectives and Themes
This term paper explores the phenomenon of political realignment within the United States party system, examining whether the historical cycles of voter behavior shifts suggest a current realignment favoring the Republican Party or a broader trend of dealignment.
- Historical evolution of American party systems since the 18th century.
- Theoretical definitions and patterns of political realignment.
- Impact of the "New Deal" system and subsequent electoral cycles.
- Analysis of contemporary voting patterns and the rise of candidate-centered politics.
- Evaluation of Republican dominance in recent electoral outcomes.
Excerpt from the Book
2. Realignment definitions
The American voters are ideological bound to a certain party, but they are not fixed to it. If there are new issues coming up due to a crisis or certain circumstances which cause a change in the society’s mind, the voters will become dissatisfied and will change their voting patterns and party identification towards the party they think will deal best with the new issues. This phenomenon is then called realignment. Scientists have been very much interested in realignments and the resulting question how the voters sympathize with a certain party and how strong and durative this so called party identification is. In 19955 the political scientist V. O. Key jr. developed a theory for realignments and said it would be an “after-effect of critical elections in which new and durable groupings are formed.” (quoted in: Moore: Elections A to Z: 360). A more recent definition was made by Lawrence G. McMichael and Richard J. Trilling who defined realignment as “a significant and durable change in the distribution of party support over relevant groups within the electorate.” (quoted in: Moore: Elections A to Z: 360).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the history of the American two-party system, highlighting its unique structure and the essential role of realignments in maintaining political relevance.
2. Realignment definitions: This chapter provides academic definitions and theoretical frameworks for understanding realignment, primarily drawing on the work of V. O. Key jr. and Walter Dean Burnham.
3. Historical Realignments and the five Party Systems: This section details the historical progression of the five major party systems in the U.S., tracing the shifts in power from the early Federalists to the New Deal era.
4. Realignment in favour of the Republican Party?: This chapter analyzes whether recent electoral successes represent a true realignment toward the Republican Party or if modern voters are exhibiting dealignment trends.
5. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, suggesting that the current political landscape reflects a complex shift in the political process rather than a traditional realignment.
6. Bibliography: Lists the academic sources, books, and articles used to substantiate the arguments presented in the paper.
Keywords
Realignment, Dealignment, Party System, United States, Voter Behavior, Political Parties, Republican Party, Democratic Party, Electoral Cycle, Walter Dean Burnham, Critical Elections, Partisanship, New Deal, Political Process, Voting Patterns
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research?
The paper examines the concept of political realignment in the United States and investigates whether the American electorate is currently undergoing such a shift toward the Republican Party.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The work covers historical party systems, the theory of realignment, the influence of critical elections, and the transition toward candidate-centered voting patterns in the modern era.
What is the main objective of the study?
The objective is to determine if recent electoral trends and Republican dominance indicate a long-term structural realignment or if they are simply temporary fluctuations in a dealigned system.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The paper employs a historical and analytical approach, synthesizing existing political science theories—specifically those by Walter Dean Burnham and Martin P. Wattenberg—and applying them to recent election data.
What is analyzed in the main body?
The main body reviews the historical trajectory of U.S. party systems, defines key concepts like realignment, and evaluates modern electoral data from the 1980s through the early 2000s.
What characterizes the keywords of this work?
The keywords reflect the intersection of political science theory and American electoral history, focusing on partisan identification and the dynamics of shifting voter loyalty.
How does the author interpret the 1960s electoral era?
The author discusses how the 1960s lacked a clear realignment, noting that this period instead marked the beginning of a shift toward candidate-centered politics rather than party-centered voting.
What role does the 9/11 attack play in the analysis?
The author notes that the post-9/11 political climate significantly strengthened the Republican position, as voters reacted to the shock and the new "clear enemy" presented to the nation.
What does the "dealignment" thesis suggest?
The dealignment thesis, supported by Martin P. Wattenberg, suggests that party ties have weakened, leading to a rise in independent voters who prioritize individual candidates over party affiliation.
- Quote paper
- Sarah Alberti (Author), 2004, Political Parties in the USA - Realignment, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/45563
