John aldrich why parties form

The origin and transformation of party politics in America. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. In short: parties are an endogenous institution. Although much recent literature has focused on the decline of parties, and on the resulting loss of a "major historical vehicle for aggregating the interests of this diverse republic," parties have always been no more than a tool of the politicians, the ambitious office seekers, and the officeholders.

They have maintained or abused the party system "when doing so has furthered their goals and ambitions. Rather, they have more fundamental goals, and the party is only the instrument for achieving them. A political party is an endogenous institution shaped by ambitious political actors office seeker and officeholder.

Political parties are the main instruments that "help" politicians to accomplish their goals long and successful career in political office, achievement of policy ends and power and prestige within the government. The form in which political parties can "help" ambitious politicians depends on three variables: the polity electorate , the institutional setting for example, a republican form of government, and the historical context ideas, values, technological conditions and also path of development.

The first two variables create collective action and collective choice problems. The historical context determines whether parties are the most efficient means of solving these two problems. In sum, "parties are designed as attempts to solve problems that current institutional arrangements do not solve and that politicians have come to believe they cannot solve.

These problems are related to collective action and collective choice. Parties are interest aggregators. The two parties are similar because both seek to appeal to a majority of the public; they are just umbrella organizations for various interests. The theoretical problem with this approach: there really are distinct ideological differences between the parties. For example, the parties differ considerably on civil rights and on the scope of government intervention in society and the economy.

They have not converged on the median. Finally, Why Parties? A Second Look offers a fuller consideration of party systems in general, especially the two-party system in the United States, and explains why this system is necessary for effective democracy. Chicago Studies in American Politics. History: American History. Political Science: American Government and Politics.

The new edition describes recent developments in the parties and the party system and brings new evidence and thinking to the enterprise.

It is a major contribution to political science that will be valuable to scholars as well as students at all levels. Highly recommended. Get the latest updates on new releases, special offers, and media highlights when you subscribe to our email lists!

Sign up here for updates about the Press. In the s, he shows, parties started to become candidate-centered organizations that are servants to their office seekers and officeholders. Aldrich argues that this development has revitalized parties, making them stronger, and more vital, with well-defined cleavages and highly effective governing ability.

See other books on: Aldrich, John H. National Origin Political Parties Transformation. Why did the United States develop political parties?