Despite what we hear in the media, Americans have not become more polarized-they're just better sorted into the political parties. Continuing the research reported in the widely-read Culture War?, Morris Fiorina shows in this new book that what has occurred in the United States is the sorting of partisan sub-groups within the larger electorate--especially among partisan office holders, party activists and campaign donors. Although party wars seem to prevail on every front every day, since political candidates are now more liberal (if Democratic) and more conservative (if Republican) than the country as a whole, perceptions can be deceiving. Voters confronted with more extreme candidates can only choose the least disagreeable. By no means has the political center vanished-it is simply homeless in today's party system. The American public-even partisans--often shows more agreement on issues like gay marriage, abortion, and gun control than do the warring parties on the Hill or in the White House, suggesting that our country could make progress on the issues we face if only we could break the stranglehold two sorted parties hold on the political process.
- ISBN13 9781317229766
- Publish Date 13 April 2016
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
- Imprint Routledge
- Format eBook
- Pages 200
- Language English