American Political Parties and Elections: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

By L. Sandy Maisel

Book Overview

Few Americans and even fewer citizens of other nations understand the electoral process in the United States. Still fewer understand the role played by political parties in the electoral process or the ironies within the system. Participation in elections in the United States is much lower than in the vast majority of mature democracies. Perhaps this is because of the lack of competition in a country where only two parties have a true chance of winning, despite the fact that a large number of citizens claim allegiance to neither and think badly of both. Or perhaps it is because in the U.S. campaign contributions disproportionately favor incumbents in most legislative elections, or that largely unregulated groups such as the now notorious 527 organizations have as much impact on the outcome of a campaign as do the parties or the candidates' campaigns. For instance, in two of the last six presidential elections, the winner of the popular vote lost the election in the Electoral College; in two others, a change of fewer than 100,000 votes in selected states would have led to the same result. These factors offer a very clear picture of the problems that underlie our much trumpeted electoral system.

The third edition of this Very Short Introduction analyzes these issues and more. Accounting for changes in electoral coalitions and the extent to which the American electorate is polarized in the wake of Donald Trump, L. Sandy Maisel explains how the system actually works while shining a light on some of its flaws. He also looks closely at turnout questions; efforts both to ease access to the ballot in some states and to restrict access in others; and the role of social media in campaign strategy.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0197605117
• ISBN13: 9780197605110
• Release Date: July 2022
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 4.5" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Solid, detailed, thorough, readable introduction

This book is a great example of what the VSI series should (and often does) achieve. It provides a thorough introduction to the topic that somehow combines incredibly mastery of detail with lively writing. The reader comes away with a solid grasp of the subject. As a professional political scientist who read this as a possible classroom textbook, I can attest that the information is of top quality. I'm enough of an academic that I always worry with well-written books if I'm really getting an accurate grounding in the subject, or if it is instead readable but superficial or misleading. No worries in this case. Maisel does it right. Non-American readers might detect a tinge (or more) of patriotism shining through, and sometimes the book seems pitched too clearly to Americans. I often thought I heard Maisel's voice lecturing his undergraduates when I read the book (not a bad thing in itself, I'm sure his lectures are fantastic). This is really a minor point though and, after all, we academics can never bring ourselves to write ONLY positive things in a review. All in all, this book more than delivers what it promises: an excellent, thorough, information-packed, and readable overview. Sandy Maisel was surely the right person to ask to write the book.

Informative and relevant

Despite all the high-level media coverage that politics gets in the US, the way that American political system works is rather obscure even for someone who has been following politics for many years. There are several key aspects of this system that make it very different from other highly developed democracies around the world. The most notorious one of these aspects, the electoral system, prevents direct election of the American president, and makes only a handful of states competitive in the presidential race. Furthermore, what makes the political system particularly complicated is the fact that each one of the fifty states has its own political and electoral idiosyncrasies. This book is a very useful first step for anyone who is serious about learning more about American politics. It covers all the main features of the system, without getting bogged down in technical details. It provides a concise and accessible overview, from both historical and contemporary points of view. The inclusion of several recent political contests makes the material relevant and approachable. It is an easy and enjoyable read and will be appreciated by anyone who is interested in the subject, whether you have been following American politics for decades or are completely new to it. I highly recommend it.