POLITICAL PARTIES & ELECTIONS, FALL 2010

POLARIZATION AND POLITICAL REFORM

Fiorina, Culture War? chapters 9 and 10

Wednesday, December 8

9.1 Chapter 9 contains several figures that are “challenging” to read and interpret. The bottom line from these figures: if voters do not change their preferences over time but candidates/parties/elites DO change preferences, voters will appear to be changing their preferences/reasons for voting as they do – but in fact the candidate/party/elite change is causing this:

When candidates diverge (converge) on an issue dimension, voters will appear to weight that dimension more (less) heavily even if their own preferences and decision rules do not change (p. 179)

Considering that explanation, what aspects of candidates/parties/elites have changed in the last 15-20 years? In what ways might voters have changed, too?

9.2 Explain electoral punishment, what causes it, and when has this been most evident
in US history?

10.1 Consider Table 10.1 (p. 195). Which of these changes seems to be the most significant? Are any of these changes bad for the state of our political system?

10.2 Of the reform ideas Fiorina presents (207-228), which ones would make the most difference, and why?

10.3 What is the background of the term "nuclear option," and in what way does it
encourage the emergence of a third party or extra-party movement?