Party Systems

As a prelude to some things I'd like to write about in the future, I want to introduce the idea in political science of party systems. Party systems are eras of dominance by a given dynamic between (and within) the two parties in government, in the electorate, and as organizations (but mostly the first two). There have been four definitive party systems in American history, starting very near the dawn of the republic, and depending on with whom one speaks, concluding in or around the mid- to late-1960s.

The First Party System was from roughly 1792 to 1824. the Second Party System was from roughly 1826 to 1894; the Third Party System from 1896 to 1930; the Fourth Party System from roughly 1932 to 1968 (I say it ends at 1968, which is also the dawn of my hypothesized Fifth Party System which is actually two periods of de-alignment).

Why is this important?

In looking at the last thirty years, the party systems have had tremendous impacts on our democracy and policies it has brought about. And as importantly, what has happened recently could very well be the beginning of a new, Sixth Party System. The consequences could be a) en era of dominance for Democrats and potentially an era of progressive governance and b) a radical transformation of the Republican party or its shrinking from the American political scene. The smart money with respect to the GOP is on the former.

Finally, to end this introductory note, consider Karl Rove circa 2004, declaring the emergence of an enduring Republican majority. He misread politics and governing and today he looks like a fool. So that means take anything anyone says about projecting party systems and realignment with the requisite grain of salt. Or perhaps a whole shaker full of them.