The Disappearing Center; Engaged Citizens, Polarization, and American Democracy

by Alan I. Abramowitz

• ISBN13: 9780300168297
• ISBN10: 0300168292
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2011-01-25
• Publisher: Yale University Press

Summary

Renowned political scientist Alan I. Abramowitz presents a groundbreaking argument that the most important divide in American politics is not between left and right but rather between citizens who are politically engaged and those who are not. It is the engaged members of the public, he argues, who most closely reflect the ideals of democratic citizenshipbut this is also the group that is most polarized. Polarization at the highest levels of government, therefore, is not a sign of elites' disconnection from the public but rather of their responsiveness to the more politically engaged parts of it. Though polarization is often assumed to be detrimental to democracy, Abramowitz concludes that by presenting voters with clear choices, polarization can serve to increase the public's interest and participation in politics and strengthen electoral accountability.

Author Biography

Alan I. Abramowitz is the Alben W. Barkley Professor of Political Science at Emory University.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Polarization in the Age of Obama	p. 1
The Engaged Public	p. 15
Partisan-Ideological Polarization	p. 34
Polarization and Social Groups	p. 62
Polarization and Elections	p. 84
Polarization in a Changing Electorate	p. 111
Polarization and Representation	p. 139
Polarization and Democratic Governance	p. 158
Notes	p. 173
Index	p. 187
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