Author Description
The 2016 election of Donald J. Trump invoked a time for reflection about the state of American politics and its deep ideological, cultural, racial, regional, and economic divisions. But one aspect that the contemporary discussions often miss is that these fissures have been opening over several decades and are deeply rooted in the structure of American politics and society.In Polarization: What Everyone Needs to Know® Nolan McCarty takes readers through what scholars know and don't know about the origins, development, and implications of our rising political conflicts, delving into social, economic, and geographic determinants of polarization in the United States. While the current political climate seems to suggest that extreme views are becoming more popular, McCarty also argues that, contrary to popular belief, the 2016 election was a natural outgrowth of 40 years of polarized politics, rather than a significant break with the past. He evaluates arguments over which factors that have created this state of affairs, including gerrymandered legislative districts, partisan primary nomination systems, and our private campaign finance system. He also considers the potential of major reforms such as instating proportional representation or ranked choice voting to remedy extreme polarization. A concise overview of a complex and crucial topic in US politics, this book is for anyone wanting to understand how to repair the cracks in our system.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the structural origins and long-term development of political polarization in the United States to determine if current divisions are a recent anomaly or the result of decades of systemic shifts. Nolan McCarty, a professor of politics and public affairs, utilizes political science research and historical data to argue that the 2016 election was a predictable outcome of forty years of increasing ideological and social fragmentation. He examines how economic, geographic, and institutional factors have combined to create a political environment where compromise is increasingly difficult to achieve.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of social, economic, and geographic determinants of political division
- Evaluation of institutional factors like gerrymandering and campaign finance
- Assessment of electoral reforms including ranked choice voting and proportional representation
Scope Limits
- Does not provide a comprehensive history of American political parties prior to the modern era
- Does not offer a prescriptive policy manifesto but rather an analysis of potential reform mechanisms
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts and political observers recognize this work as a highly accessible synthesis of complex academic research on American legislative behavior. Readers frequently note that the prose is clear and objective, making it a standard reference for understanding the structural roots of contemporary political conflict.
Page Count:
276
Publication Date:
2019-07-08
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190867787
ISBN-13:
9780190867782
Sociology
United States
American Politics
Government
Public Policy