NEW EDITION DYNAMICS OF THE PARTY SYSTEM ALIGNMENT AND REALIGNMENT OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE UNITED STATES JAMES L. SUNDQUIST WASHINGTON, D.C.

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1 NEW EDITION DYNAMICS OF THE PARTY SYSTEM ALIGNMENT AND REALIGNMENT OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE UNITED STATES JAMES L. SUNDQUIST THE BROOKINGS WASHINGTON, D.C. INSTITUTION

2 DYNAMICS OF THE PARTY SYSTEM ALIGNMENT AND REALIGNMENT OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE UNITED STATES (REVISED EDITION) JAMES L. SUNDQUIST Since the original edition of Dynamics of the Party System was published in 1973, American politics have continued on a tumultuous course. In the vacuum left by the decline of the Democratic and Republican parties, single-interest groups have risen and flourished. Protest movements on the left and the New Right at the opposite pole have challenged and divided the major parties, and the Reagan Revolution in reversing a fifty-year trend toward governmental expansion may turn out to have revolutionized the party system too. In this book, as in the earlier edition, current political trends and events are placed in a historical and theoretical context. Focusing upon three major realignments of the past those of the 1850s, the 1890s, and the 1930s Sundquist traces the processes by which basic transformations of the country's twoparty system occur. From the historical case studies, he fashions a theory as to the why and how of party realignment, then applies it to current and recent developments, through the first two years of the Reagan presidency and the midterm election of The theoretical sections of the first edition are refined in this one, the historical sections are revised to take account of recent scholarship, and the chapters dealing with the postwar period are almost wholly rewritten. The conclusion of the original work is, in general, confirmed: the existing party system is likely to be strengthened as public attention is again riveted on domestic economic issues, and the headlong trend of recent decades toward political independence and party disintegration reversed, at least for a time. July 1983/ c. 420 pp./$11.95 paper/'$29.95 cloth

3 CONTENTS 1. Party Realignment: What? When? How? 2. Some Hypothetical Scenarios 3. The Realignment Process: A Preliminary Statement 4. Slavery Polarizes the Nation 5. The Realignment of the 1850s 6. The Agrarian Revolt and the Rise of Populism 7. The Realignment of the 1890s 8. Major Realignment Averted: The Progressive Era 9. Minor Realignment of the 1920s 10. The Realignment of the 1930s 11. Aftershocks of the New Deal Earthquake in the North 12. Aftershocks of the New Deal Earthquake in the South 13. The Realignment Process: An Amplified Statement 14. Some Further Notes on Party Dynamics 15. The New Deal Party System: Years of Stabilization 16. Years of Disruption: Race and Southern Politics 17. Years of Disruption: Crosscutting Issues Nationwide 18. The Reagan Revolution and After Comments on the previous edition: "This is an illuminating book, a distinguished exemplar of the value of bringing together historical narrative and explanatory theory. Their conjunction is fruitful." Political Studies "It explores with considerable insight one of the dominant themes in the study of any party system. It also organizes a good bit of American party history in a compelling way. And it does so with a clarity that is quite uncommon these days. All in all, it is a good introduction to the subject, both for professional political scientists and their students." Political Science Quarterly "... important and careful study.... The book should be required reading for serious students of the American party system." Library Journal "Sundquist makes use of an abundance of historical and social scientific material in a book which is cohesive and well-organized..." Public Administration Review "Sundquist thinks, writes, and challenges with trenchance, precision, and originality." Annals "... an impressive and important contribution to the on-going debate over the future of the American party system.... His book is a most welcome and thought-provoking study." Choice

4 OTHER BOOKS OF RELATED INTEREST The Decline and Resurgence of Congress JAMES L. SUNDQUIST "... an excellent book that merits consideration by every serious student of presidential-congressional relations. It presents the findings of thorough scholarship in a very readable style." American Political Science Review "His precise and stimulating analysis is recommended for academic and larger public libraries." Library Journal "... vintage Sundquist. That is to say that it is extremely well written, and an insightful, balanced analysis of executive-legislative relations, of the weakness and strengths of the Congress, and of the overarching idea of a shifting executive-legislative equilibrium." Presidential Studies Quarterly "... a first rate book worthy of the attention of students of Congress and government, as well as concerned activist citizens." Perspective "... a thorough review and intelligent appraisal." Annals 1981/500 pp./$15.95 paper/$32.95 cloth Politics and Policy: The Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson Years JAMES L SUNDQUIST "... indispensable reading for anyone concerned with American national government For an over-view of the policymaking process few books can compare with this one." American Political Science Review "... this will be a classic guide." Times Literary Supplement (London) "...an impressive, timely, and forthright analysis..." Annals 1968/560 pp./$9.95 paper/$23.95 cloth The Administrative Behavior of Federal Bureau Chiefs HERBERT KAUFMAN WINNER OF THE 1982 LOUIS BROWNLOW BOOK AWARD "This is the latest in the author's series of penetrating studies of public administration at the federal level of government... thorough and comprehensive...." Choice "... an important contribution to the literature in public administration." Political Science Quarterly 1981/220 pp./$8.95 paper/$22.95 cloth

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