From Realignment to Dealignment : The Changing Electoral Behavior in the United States

Abstract

This article provides a critical survey of the literature concerning the notion of realignment and examines to what an extent this theory can still account for electoral changes in present-day United States. Specifically, it checks the views of the major works on this topic against political developments and argues that, despite significant revisions, such a formulation no longer holds and adealignment perspective better reflects the contemporary dynamics of the American party system.