American political parties and electoral politics

Author: Zhang Liping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-08-01
Features: Chinese-American Studies Association, Chinese-American Studies Series. This book is the first academic work by Chinese scholars dedicated to the study of contemporary American party politics. Through detailed descriptions and objective analysis, it presents the complexity of American electoral politics and its deep social and cultural foundations. In addition to describing the functions of political parties and election procedures, the author addresses some questions that readers are concerned about: How did the two-party system in the United States form? Why does it have such strong vitality? Why are third parties always unable to truly take off? What are the differences and similarities in the ideology, policy trends, and voter bases of the Democratic and Republican parties? Why do people outside the United States perceive the political platforms of the two parties as largely identical, with debates often centered on trivial issues like abortion and same-sex marriage, yet American political figures seem overly serious and passionate about such disputes?