Upending American politics : polarizing parties, ideological elites, and citizen activists from the Tea Party to the anti-Trump resistance / edited by Theda Skocpol and Caroline Tervo.
Introduction: Understanding current transformations in American politics -- The elite and popular roots of contemporary Republican extremism / Theda Skocpol -- Dissecting the conservative Triumph in Wisconsin / Alexander Hertel-Fernandez -- Why Republicans went hard right in North Carolina / Caroline Tervo -- The overlooked organizational basis of Trump's 2016 victory / Michael Zoorob and Theda Skocpol -- How Trump flipped Michigan / Sally Marsh -- Trump's Trump : Lou Barletta and the limits of anti-immigrant politics in Pennsylvania / Elizabeth Thom and Theda Skocpol -- From Obama victories to a GOP edge in Florida / Alexandra Caffrey -- Middle America reboots democracy : the emergence and rapid electoral turn of the new grassroots / Lara Putnam -- Saving America once again : from the Tea Party to the anti-Trump resistance / Leah Gose, Theda Skocpol, and Vanessa Williamson -- The surprising advance of gun control politics after Parkland / Sophia Young -- The Texas-sized impact of Beto O'Rourke's 2018 senate campaign / Eliza Oehmler and Michael Zoorob -- How grassroots resistance networks boosted Pennsylvania Democrats in 2018 / Maximilian Frank -- Citizen activism and the Democratic Party / Theda Skocpol, Lara Putnam, and Caroline Tervo -- Conclusion: America at a crossroads.
Summary:
"Analysts and citizens alike struggle to comprehend recent gyrations in U.S. politics. The country did an apparent U-turn in just eight short years, from the election of Barack Obama and an all-Democratic Congress in 2008 to the election of Donald Trump and confirmation of GOP control of Congress in 2016. Twice in under a decade, ordinary citizens reacted by organizing local grassroots groups all over the country - with Tea Parties starting in 2009 and anti-Trump resistance groups starting in late 2016. Upending American Politics offers a fresh perspective on these developments by focusing on recent and newly changing organizational configurations, such as the voluntary local citizens' groups, elite advocacy organizations, consortia of wealthy donors, and candidate-led political campaigns. Contributors have collected many new kinds of data to document and probe changing organizational configurations at the national level and in the pivotal states of Wisconsin, North Carolina, Michigan, Florida, Texas, and Pennsylvania. The volume offers insightful answers to key questions: Why has partisan polarization unfolded in a heavily rightward-tilted manner that sees Republicans embracing ever-more extreme positions? Why have widespread grassroots citizens movements erupted twice just eight years, and what impact have these movements had on the major political parties?"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.