PARTY DEFINITION AND PARTY DIFFERENTIATION

This article contrasts the “issue profiles” that emerge when the two major political parties are defined according to differing criteria. Over a wide array of issues, and from 1948 to die present, the Democratic party as defined by behavioral criteria (voting support) has been more “liberal” than it...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Public opinion quarterly 1973-01, Vol.37 (1), p.21-34
Main Authors: LADD, EVERETT CARLL, HADLEY, CHARLES D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Electorate
Government
Liberalism
Party/Parties
Political candidates
Political parties
Political partisanship
Politics
Presidential elections
State government
Voting
Voting behavior
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Summary:This article contrasts the “issue profiles” that emerge when the two major political parties are defined according to differing criteria. Over a wide array of issues, and from 1948 to die present, the Democratic party as defined by behavioral criteria (voting support) has been more “liberal” than its self-identified counterpart, while behavioral Republicans are persistently more “conservative” than self-identified GOP partisans. Ladd and Hadley note that in periods distinguished by rapid social change and partisan realignment, the adequacy of self-perception for determining the definition of party membership is called into question.
ISSN:0033-362X
1537-5331
DOI:10.1086/268057