Table of Contents
Introduction: Two Different Kinds of Parties
Chapter 1: How Democrats and Republicans Think About Politics
Chapter 2: An Ideological Movement vs. A Social Group Coalition
Chapter 3: The Not-So-Great Debate
Chapter 4: Campaigning in Poetry and Prose
Chapter 5: Policymaking in Red and Blue
Conclusion: American Politics Out of Balance
References
Matt Grossmann is Director of the Institute for Public Policy and
Social Research and Associate Professor of Political Science at
Michigan State University.
David A. Hopkins is Assistant Professor of Political Science,
Boston College.
"Grossmann and Hopkins cite dozens of political scientists, from
Robert Lane, Nelson Polsby, and Theodore Lowi to Larry Bartels,
Morris Fiorina, and Daniel Galvin; borrow from other disciplines,
such as history, sociology, and communications; and vigorously
project to readers the facts of their case. The result is an
outstanding piece of political science research, synthesis, and
analysis, whose authors lay out findings about the differing
virtues and
shortcomings of both parties so that this information will be
available to ordinary citizens, activists, and the nation as a
whole." -- Perspectives on Politics
"Grossmann and Hopkins provide a fresh and incisive analysis of the
state of America's party politics. Highly recommended."
--CHOICE
"Not many books change how you think about American politics. This
one will. Grossmann and Hopkins' research decisively shows that the
two parties are not the same-and once you understand the ways in
which they're different, American politics begins to make a lot
more sense."
--Ezra Klein, Editor-in-Chief, Vox
"In this detailed and well-argued book, Grossmann and Hopkins
present formidable evidence against a still-too-common depiction of
American parties, which views their 'polarization' as a consequence
of their equivalent march away from some imagined middle.
Asymmetric Politics encourages a badly-needed re-examination of the
very distinctive internal workings and strategic choices of
Democrats and Republicans."
--Paul Pierson, John Gross Professor of Political Science,
University of California at Berkeley, and co-author of
Winner-Take-All Politics
"This deeply clarifying book not only helps us gain a better grasp
of our polarized politics, it also helps to show how the methods of
political science can help bridge the gap between the theory and
practice of American political life-bringing the former down to
earth and lifting the latter toward a more coherent understanding
of itself. It is required reading in this confusing time."
--Yuval Levin, editor, National Affairs
"Asymmetric Politics: Ideological Republicans and Group Interest
Democrats by political scientists Matt Grossmann and David Hopkins,
makes it clear that the two parties are essentially different: The
Democratic Party is focused on producing concrete solutions for
citizens whereas the Republican Party is obsessed with conservative
ideological purity. This is useful for understanding how the nation
got to a point of contemplating a possible Donald Trump
presidency. "-Paul Rosenberg, Salon
"In total, Asymmetric Politics successfully paints a comprehensive
and accessible portrait of contemporary party politics." -
ELIZABETH N. SIMAS, University of Houston, Political Science
Quarterly
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