Political parties are critical to the workings of modern, mass democracy. They significantly simplify voting decisions for most people, and they act as a bridge between the institutions of government and the mass public that the state is supposed to represent. But they are also organizations riddled with inconsistencies. To be effective, parties must remain united and present a consistent ideology. Yet, especially in American politics, many factors push them towards disunity: The government is divided into different and often conflicting institutions; parties run candidates in many different individual, winner-take-all district and state elections, and ideological leanings in America vary widely by location; and these parties must act as umbrella organizations for a wide range of interest groups. Thus, the Democrats try to gain support in both Massachusetts and Mississippi while the Republicans attempt to hold together a fragile alliance of libertarians and social conservatives. In this course, we will explore the contradictory demands on parties and attempt to uncover how they resolve these political dilemmas. We will also scrutinize American parties from a comparative perspective; we will study the possibilities for, or plight of, third parties in the United States; and we will examine the evolution of major parties in America over the past two centuries. Format: lecture/discussion. Requirements: One ten page midterm paper, several group simulations, and a research paper to be handed in at the end of the semester. Prerequisite: Political Science course at the 200 or 300 level or permission of instructor. Enrollment limit: 24(expected 24). American Politics Subfield.

Hour: TAMAS