Party Ideologies in America, 1828–1996

This book, first published in 1998, presents historical analysis of the ideologies of major American parties from the early-nineteenth century onwards.

Is American politics 'ideological,' or relatively consensual? Do the American parties differ from one another and, if so, how? Party Ideologies in America, 1828–1996, first published in 1998, is a synthetic history and analysis of the ideologies of the major American parties from the early-nineteenth century to the present.This book, first published in 1998, challenges traditional notions of American party politics and political culture. Usually, American politics is looked upon as relatively consensual and nonideological. Professor Gerring argues, instead, that the major parties have articulated views that were coherent, differentiated, and stable. American party history, and by extension American political history at-large, has been irreducibly ideological. The argument rests on evidence provided by election rhetoric - speeches, party platforms, and other campaign tracts disseminated by party leaders during presidential campaigns. With these texts Professor Gerring traces the values, beliefs, and issue-positions which have defined party life from the 1830s to the 1990s. Party Ideologies in America, 1828–1996 thus presents an historical synthesis of mainstream party politics from the birth of competitive parties to the present.