Table of Contents
Tables and Figures, Preface and Acknowledgments, Third Parties in American Politics, Varieties and Definitions of Third Parties, Subpresidential Politics, The Dilemma of the Two-Party System, Minor Parties in a Two-Party System: Historical Perspectives, The Emergence of a Party System, The Pre-Civil War Era: Two-Party Competition, in or Party Eruptions, The Post-Civil War Era: Republican Ascendancy, Sectionalism, Transient Third Parties, The 1896 Election: Electoral Realignment, Republican Resurgence, Progressivism and the Emergence of the New Deal Democratic Coalition, The Ascendancy of the New Deal Democratic Coalition, The Post-New Deal System: Divided Government, Candidate-Centered Politics, Continuing Third-Party and Independent Candidacies, Elections 2000: Reform Party Disintegration and Green Party Emergence, Minor Parties in State Politics, Lessons from Party History, Third Parties in the American Context: A Less Than Friendly Environment, Why Two Major Parties and Not a Multiparty System?, Institutional Barriers to Multiparty Politics, Assessing Public Support for the Republicans and Democrats, Fear of “Wasting” One’s Vote: Strategic Voting in Recent Presidential Elections, Multiparty Systems at the State Level: The Overwhelming Tides of National Politics, An Environment Hostile to Third Parties, The Public Demand for Alternatives, Discontent at the Ballot Box with Two-Party Alternatives, Public Opinion on the Performance of Our Two-Party Political System, Politicians' Responses to Public Discontent, Causes of the Dissatisfaction, Consequences of “Alternative” Governments, Political Parties in the Twenty-First Century, The Future of Two-Party Politics in America, A Defense of Two-Party Politics in America, Reforming the Two-Party System, Discussion Questions, Glossary, Appendix, Notes, References, Index
