Uneasy Alliances: Race and Party Competition in America (New in Paper) (Princeton Studies in American Politics: Historical, International, and Comparative Perspectives)

Uneasy Alliances is a powerful challenge to how we think about the relationship between race, political parties, and American democracy. While scholars frequently claim that the need to win elections makes government officials responsive to any and all voters, Paul Frymer shows that not all groups are treated equally; politicians spend most of their time and resources on white swing voters—to the detriment of the African American community. As both parties try to attract white swing voters by distancing themselves from blacks, black voters are often ignored and left with unappealing alternatives. African Americans are thus the leading example of a "captured minority." Frymer argues that our two-party system bears much of the blame for this state of affairs. Often overlooked in current discussions of racial politics, the party system represents a genuine form of institutional racism. Frymer shows that this is no accident, for the party system was set up in part to keep African American concerns off the political agenda. Today, the party system continues to restrict the political opportunities of African American voters, as was shown most recently when Bill Clinton took pains to distance himself from African Americans in order to capture conservative votes and win the presidency. Frymer compares the position of black voters with other social groups—gays and lesbians and the Christian right, for example—who have recently found themselves similarly "captured." Rigorously argued and researched, Uneasy Alliances is a powerful challenge to how we think about the relationship between black voters, political parties, and American democracy. In a new afterword, Frymer examines the impact of Barack Obama's election on the delicate relationship between race and party politics in America. Annotation Uneasy Alliances is a powerful challenge to how we think about the relationship between race, political parties, and American democracy. While scholars frequently claim that the need to win elections makes government officials responsive to any and all voters, Paul Frymer shows that not all groups are treated equally; politicians spend most of their time and resources on white swing voters--to the detriment of the African American community. As both parties try to attract white swing voters by distancing themselves from blacks, black voters are often ignored and left with unappealing alternatives. African Americans are thus the leading example of a "captured minority." Frymer argues that our two-party system bears much of the blame for this state of affairs. Often overlooked in current discussions of racial politics, the party system represents a genuine form of institutional racism. Frymer shows that this is no accident, for the party system was set up in part to keep African American concerns off the political agenda. Today, the party system continues to restrict the political opportunities of African American voters, as was shown most recently when Bill Clinton took pains to distance himself from African Americans in order to capture conservative votes and win the presidency. Frymer compares the position of black voters with other social groups--gays and lesbians and the Christian right, for example--who have recently found themselves similarly "captured." Rigorously argued and researched, Uneasy Alliances is a powerful challenge to how we think about the relationship between black voters, political parties, and American democracy. In a new afterword, Frymer examines the impact of Barack Obama's election on the delicate relationship between race and party politics in America. Paul Frymer argues provocatively that two-party competition in the United States leads to the marginalization of African Americans and the subversion of democracy. Scholars have long claimed that the need to win elections makes candidates, parties, and government responsive to any and all voters. Frymer shows, however, that party competition is centered around racially conservative white voters, and that this focus on white voters has dire consequences for African Americans. As both parties try to attract white swing voters by distancing themselves from blacks, black voters are often ignored and left with unappealing alternatives. African Americans are thus the leading example of a "captured minority."Frymer argues that our two-party system bears much of the blame for this state of affairs. Often overlooked in current discussions of racial politics, the party system represents a genuine form of institutional racism. Frymer shows that this is no accident, for the party system was set up in part to keep African American concerns off the political agenda Today, the party system continues to restrict the political opportunities of African American voters, as was shown most recently when Bill Clinton took pains to distance himself from African Americans in order to capture conservative votes and win the presidency. Frymer compares the position of black voters with other social groups -- gays and lesbians and the Christian right, for example -- who have recently found themselves similarly "captured." Rigorously argued and researched, Uneasy Alliances is a powerful challenge to how we think about the relationship between black voters, political parties, and American democracy. Contents 8 List of Illustrations 10 Acknowledgments 12 Chapter 1. Introduction 16 Chapter 2. Competitive Parties and the “Invisibility” of Captured Groups 40 Chapter 3. National Party Competition and the Disenfranchisement of Black Voters in the South, 1866–1932 62 Chapter 4. Capture Inside the Democratic Party, 1965–1996 100 Chapter 5. Party Education and Mobilization and the Captured Group 133 Chapter 6. Black Representation in Congress 153 Chapter 7. Is the Concept of Electoral Capture Applicable to Other Groups? The Case of Gay and Lesbian Voters in the Democratic Party and the Christian Right in the Republican Party 192 Afterword to the 2010 Edition. Obama and the Representation of Captured Groups 220 Index 250 A 250 B 250 C 251 D 251 E 252 F 252 G 253 H 253 I 253 J 253 K 254 L 254 M 254 N 255 O 255 P 255 Q 255 R 255 S 256 T 257 U 257 V 257 W 257 X 257 Y 257 Z 257 0691148015,9780691148014,0691057958,9780691057958 Princeton University Press 1999/2010 Ch. 1. Introduction -- Ch. 2. Competitive Parties And The Invisibility Of Captured Groups -- Ch. 3. National Party Competition And The Disenfranchisement Of Black Voters In The South, 1866-1932 -- Ch. 4. Capture Inside The Democratic Party, 1965-1996 -- Ch. 5. Party Education And Mobilization And The Captured Group -- Ch. 6. Black Representation In Congress -- Ch. 7. Is The Concept Of Electoral Capture Applicable To Other Groups? The Case Of Gay And Lesbian Voters In The Democratic Party And The Christian Right In The Republican Party. Paul Frymer. Revision Of The Author's Thesis (ph. D.) -- Yale University, 1995. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Challenges how we think about the relationship between race, political parties, and American democracy. This book shows that not all groups are treated equally, and that politicians spend most of their time and resources on white swing voters - to the detriment of the African American community.