State of the Parties

Despite President Barack Obama's historic re-election in 2012, American politics remains deeply divided. The State of the Parties brings readers up to date on party action in election years and in between. This essential party primer includes: new chapters on polarization between and within the parties in the aftermath of the 2012 election, demographic changes to America's political parties and the effects of new media and campaign finance laws on national and local electoral results, an analysis of the Tea Party's rise to relevance and the kind of impact they have had on the American polity, and as always, the implications of all these things on future policymaking and electoral prospects moving forward. Contributions by: Alan Abramowitz, Paul A. Beck, Michael John Burton, Edward G. Carmines, Daniel J. Coffey, William F. Connelly, Jr., Meredith Dost, Diana Dwyre, Michael J. Ensley, Peter L. Francia, Erik Heidemann,,Shannon Jenkins, Caitlin E. Jewitt, David C. Kimball, Robin Kolodny, Thad Kousser, David B. Magleby, Seth Masket, William G. Mayer, Eric McGhee, William J. Miller, Jonathan S. Morris, Ronald Rapoport, Douglas D. Roscoe, Dante Scala, Daniel M. Shea, Boris Shor, Walter Stone, Jeffrey M. Stonecash, Eric C. Vorst, Michael W. Wagner