Description
Students of American government are faced with an enduring dilemma: Why two parties? Why has this system remained largely intact while around the world democracies support multiparty systems? Should our two-party system continue as we enter the new millennium? This newly revised and updated edition of Two Parties-Or More? answers these questions by
Table of Contents
Tables and Figures, Preface and Acknowledgments, Third Parties in American Politics, Varieties and Definitions of Third Parties, Subpresidential Politics, The Dilemma of the Two-Party System, Minor Parties in a Two-Party System: Historical Perspectives, The Emergence of a Party System, The Pre-Civil War Era: Two-Party Competition, in or Party Eruptions, The Post-Civil War Era: Republican Ascendancy, Sectionalism, Transient Third Parties, The 1896 Election: Electoral Realignment, Republican Resurgence, Progressivism and the Emergence of the New Deal Democratic Coalition, The Ascendancy of the New Deal Democratic Coalition, The Post-New Deal System: Divided Government, Candidate-Centered Politics, Continuing Third-Party and Independent Candidacies, Elections 2000: Reform Party Disintegration and Green Party Emergence, Minor Parties in State Politics, Lessons from Party History, Third Parties in the American Context: A Less Than Friendly Environment, Why Two Major Parties and Not a Multiparty System?, Institutional Barriers to Multiparty Politics, Assessing Public Support for the Republicans and Democrats, Fear of 窶弩asting窶� One窶冱 Vote: Strategic Voting in Recent Presidential Elections, Multiparty Systems at the State Level: The Overwhelming Tides of National Politics, An Environment Hostile to Third Parties, The Public Demand for Alternatives, Discontent at the Ballot Box with Two-Party Alternatives, Public Opinion on the Performance of Our Two-Party Political System, Politicians' Responses to Public Discontent, Causes of the Dissatisfaction, Consequences of 窶廣lternative窶� Governments, Political Parties in the Twenty-First Century, The Future of Two-Party Politics in America, A Defense of Two-Party Politics in America, Reforming the Two-Party System, Discussion Questions, Glossary, Appendix, Notes, References, Index
