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
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 1982. 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
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
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