Courses

In 1942 E.E. Schattschneider famously wrote that “democracy is unthinkable save in terms of parties.”  In recent years, many observers of American politics have argued that the growing division between the two parties is having a negative impact on the U.S. political system. This seminar examines American political parties from both theoretical and empirical perspectives.  We will explore some fundamental questions about the U.S. party system, including: Why do we have political parties?  Why do voters form attachments to particular parties?  Do these attachments affect behavior even outside politics?  What role do political parties have in the U.S. Congress?  Has politics become more polarized along party lines?