The Phantom of a Polarized America: Myths and Truths of an Ideological Divide Contributor(s): Saeki, Manabu (Author) |
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ISBN: 1438459084 ISBN-13: 9781438459080 Publisher: State University of New York Press OUR PRICE: $33.20 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: January 2017 |
Additional Information |
BISAC Categories: - Political Science | Political Process - Political Parties - Political Science | Political Ideologies - Conservatism & Liberalism - Political Science | American Government - General |
Dewey: 320.509 |
Physical Information: 0.7" H x 6" W x 8.9" (0.70 lbs) 216 pages |
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
Publisher Description: There is a widespread belief that American politics is becoming more polarized, in the sense that the Republican Party and electorate are becoming more conservative while the Democratic Party and electorate are becoming more liberal. But is this truly the case? The Phantom of a Polarized America places widely held scholarly assumptions about the polarization of American politics under the microscope and tests them to determine their veracity. In the case of Congress, Manabu Saeki reveals that contrary to popular beliefs, polarization is largely due to the rightward shift of Republican legislators without any corresponding leftward shift by Democratic legislators. The conservative shift of House Republican ideology has produced a rightward shift of Republican voters, and conservative voters in the Democratic Party have switched to the Republican Party, resulting in a more liberal Democratic Party overall. Saeki concludes that the so-called polarization of American politics is largely a phantom being; in truth, it is a neo-conservative movement led by House Republicans. |