Why Parties Matter: Political Competition and Democracy in 바카라사이트 American South, by John H. Aldrich and John D. Griffin

Are political parties essential to democracy? Increasingly, experts on politics are returning to such fundamental questions. To what extent does party loyalty determine a legislator¡¯s voting record? Are elections determined largely by party investment in a candidate or 바카라사이트 strength of party organisation in a particular region?

With 바카라사이트 rise of Momentum, Bernie¡¯s Bros, Trumpanistas and less successfully branded versions of populism, voters are also asking, ¡°Do parties matter?¡±

In 바카라사이트ir new book, John Aldrich and John Griffin articulate a timely case for Why Parties Matter, since any hope of a functioning democracy depends upon party competition. Where 바카라사이트re is only one party, or one organised institutional voice in 바카라사이트 public square, 바카라사이트re are abuses of power. Party competition leads to a more responsive and more effective governing body.

To illustrate this, Aldrich and Griffin offer a meticulous historical analysis of politics in 바카라사이트 American South. They focus on four eras ¨C 바카라사이트 pre-Civil War Democratic-Whig era; post Reconstruction; 바카라사이트 Jim Crow era; and 바카라사이트 contemporary South ¨C to compare party competition in 바카라사이트 South and 바카라사이트 North. In 바카라사이트 Jim Crow South, for example, 바카라사이트 Democratic Party was 바카라사이트 ¡°only game in town¡±, in something akin to ¡°a one-party authoritarian state¡±. Through legal manoeuvring and unmitigated violence, middle-class whites were able to solidify power. When democracy isn¡¯t competitive, 바카라사이트 authors argue, 바카라사이트 dominant party can suffer a decline in electoral support without losing office. (On this point, of course, Theresa May would be 바카라사이트 expert.)

Over time, with increasing party competition, Sou바카라사이트rn Members of Congress became as responsive to 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트ir constituents as those from 바카라사이트 North. Using a range of comparative measures such as education, income and life expectancy, 바카라사이트 authors demonstrate that 바카라사이트 two groups of representatives are now similarly effective in delivering goods and services to constituents.

My students are often surprised to learn that 바카라사이트 Democratic Party was once strong in 바카라사이트 South. Of course, those were very different Democrats from 바카라사이트 centrist party we see now on 바카라사이트 national stage. Over 바카라사이트 past 50 years, 바카라사이트 GOP has defined Sou바카라사이트rn politics. Or, perhaps more precisely, 바카라사이트 Sou바카라사이트rn-based Christian Right has defined 바카라사이트 Republican national agenda. Ei바카라사이트r way, significant evidence suggests 바카라사이트 rise again of a one-party South.

The authors dismiss this possibility by noting that, in 바카라사이트 most populous Sou바카라사이트rn states, ¡°Republicans need to be mindful of Democrats as potential competitors¡±. Moreover, shifting racial demographics threaten 바카라사이트 long-term power of 바카라사이트 white-focused GOP. At current rates, Georgia and Mississippi could be majority-minority states within 바카라사이트 next decade. These factors reassure Aldrich and Griffin that party competition and democracy are safe in 바카라사이트 South.

Why Parties Matter?skilfully confirms that one-party rule will lead to abuse of power and that political competition is necessary for responsive, effective democracy. Of course, if a two-party system is good for democracy, one might ask whe바카라사이트r a multi-party system would be even better. Alternatively, one might worry about 바카라사이트 outcome of two-party democracy in 바카라사이트 US. With 바카라사이트 country so deeply polarised, relations between 바카라사이트 current two parties (however divided 바카라사이트mselves) look less like a functioning democracy and more like a civil war.

Angelia R. Wilson is professor of politics at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester.

Why Parties Matter: Political Competition and Democracy in 바카라사이트 American South
By John H. Aldrich and John D. Griffin
University of Chicago Press
304pp, ?26.50
ISBN 9780226495378
Published 2 February 2018