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The Logic of Party Alignments

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  • Edward G. Carmines

Abstract

This paper presents a theoretical framework for analyzing change in party alignments that highlights their underlying logic and dynamic evolution. The framework is based on three analytical concepts - opportunity, motive and means. The opportunity for partisan change increases as party alignments age because aging alignments include a growing proportion of incompletely socialized and weakly aligned citizens. Motive is ever-present because of losing, but rational-calculating politicians need to dislodge the current majority and institute one of their own. And the means of partisan change are provided by powerful new issues that can split the majority party's fragile coalition. It is the dynamic interaction among these three elements that leads to the natural evolution of party alignments.

Suggested Citation

  • Edward G. Carmines, 1991. "The Logic of Party Alignments," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 3(1), pages 65-80, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jothpo:v:3:y:1991:i:1:p:65-80
    DOI: 10.1177/0951692891003001005
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Beck, Paul Allen, 1979. "The Electoral Cycle and Patterns of American Politics," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 9(2), pages 129-156, April.
    2. Przeworski, Adam, 1975. "Institutionalization of Voting Patterns, or is Mobilization the Source of Decay?," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 69(1), pages 49-67, March.
    3. Macdonald, Stuart Elaine & Rabinowitz, George, 1987. "The Dynamics of Structural Realignment," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 81(3), pages 775-796, September.
    4. Carmines, Edward G. & Stimson, James A., 1986. "On the Structure and Sequence of Issue Evolution," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 80(3), pages 901-920, September.
    5. Carmines, Edward G. & Stimson, James A., 1981. "Issue Evolution, Population Replacement, and Normal Partisan Change," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 75(1), pages 107-118, March.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Samuel, Cherian, 1996. "Stock market and investment : the governance role of the market," Policy Research Working Paper Series 1578, The World Bank.
    3. Roman Senninger & Markus Wagner, 2015. "Political parties and the EU in national election campaigns: who talks about Europe, and how?," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(6), pages 1336-1351, November.

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