Date of Award
Fall 12-1-2002
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Political Science
Abstract
In American politics, voting along the lines of one's par~y is consiaered a fundamental example of stable partisanship. Over time, however, we can observe a lack in this pattern of stability. In fact, many times people do not vote for members of the party that they cla~m to belong to. The prominent theories for this unstable partisanship among the U.S. electorate are reviewed here. They include macropartisansh~p and the role of the elite; candidatecentered campaigns; party realignment and ideological change; and the role of third parties and independents. ~hey are examined for their ability to describe the unstable patterns of partisanship that are observed over time. Thro~gh library research ar.d the use of the National Election Studies, this study car.eludes that these theories do provide adequate explanations for unstable partisanship among the U.S. electorate; the segment of the population considered "weak partisans" are the nost accurately described. In add~tion, the tieories of realignment are the most convincing in their rationale for unstable partisanship among the U.S. electorate.
Recommended Citation
Lloyd, Katherine R., "Unstable Partisanship Among the U.S. Electorate: A Synthesis and Review of the Foremost Rationale" (2002). All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3508.
https://scholars.indianastate.edu/etds/3508