Why Parties?: The Origin and Transformation of Political Parties in AmericaWhy did the United States develop political parties? How and why do party alignments change? Are the party-centered elections of the past better for democratic politics than the candidate-centered elections of the present? In this landmark book, John Aldrich goes beyond the clamor of arguments over whether American political parties are in resurgence or decline and undertakes a wholesale reexamination of the foundations of the American party system. Surveying three critical episodes in the development of American political parties—from their formation in the 1790s to the Civil War—Aldrich shows how parties serve to combat three fundamental problems of democracy: how to regulate the number of people seeking public office; how to mobilize voters; and how to achieve and maintain the majorities needed to accomplish goals once in office. Overcoming these obstacles, argues Aldrich, is possible only with political parties. Aldrich brings this innovative account up to date by looking at the profound changes in the character of political parties since World War II. In the 1960s, he shows, parties started to become candidate-centered organizations that are servants to their office seekers and officeholders. Aldrich argues that this development has revitalized parties, making them stronger, and more vital, with well-defined cleavages and highly effective governing ability. |
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achieve agenda Aldrich ambitious politicians American party American Political argue Arrow's theorem benefit seekers bill Buren calculus campaign candidates caucus chapter coalition collective action problem collective interests committee congressional contest create critical decline Democratic party dimension Duverger's law effectively elections electoral equilibrium example Federalist floor goals House important incentives institutional arrangements institutionalized intersectional alliance Jackson Jacksonian Jacksonian Democratic Jeffersonian leaders legislation majority party mass party median voter theorem mobilization national party nomination office seekers officeholders outcomes partisan cleavages party affiliation party organizations party system party votes party's payoff percent policy preferences policy-motivated political parties Political Science position president presidential principle punctuated equilibrium realignment Republican party result Rohde rule second party system seeking Senate Shepsle slavery social choice social choice theory southern Democrats split-ticket voting status quo theoretical theory Third Congress tion tive turnout two-party two-party system victory Whig party