Partisanship

"The two-party system has long characterized American politics, but partisanship as it is understood today is a relatively recent phenomenon. Today, partisanship is not simply based on one's voting record but a totalizing sense of identification with one party over the other. Consequently, the American political climate is more polarized than ever before. Though this fact is often reported with alarm, it may be too soon to determine whether partisanship actually damages democracy. This volume examines what partisanship means today, how this differs from historical partisanship, its contributing factors, and the effect it has on the country"--Provided by the publisher The two-party system has long characterized American politics but partisanship, as it is understood, is a relatively recent phenomenon. Partisanship is not simply based on one's voting record, but a totalizing sense of identification with one party over the other. Consequently, the US political climate is more polarized than ever before. Though this fact is often reported with alarm, it may be too soon to determine whether partisanship actually damages democracy. This volume examines what partisanship means, how this differs from historical partisanship, its contributing factors, and the effect it has on the country Presents articles and essays with opposing viewpoints on topics pertaining to political partisan divides in the United States. Discusses what partisanship and bipartisanship are, then seeks to answer questions on topics like how partisanship could create a healthy democracy, how identity politics only serves to divide a population, and how social psychology could help bridge the divide made by partisanship This book examines what partisanship means today, how this differs from historical partisanship, its contributing factors, and the effect it has on the country