Minor to Major? : Alternative Political Parties, Electoral Protests, and the Crisis of the American Party System

Although the U.S. is often described as having a two-party system, there have always been more than two political parties, and periodically, these smaller parties become more important-winning local offices, increasing their share of the vote, and influencing the outcome of presidential elections. It has frequently been argued that such upsurges of small party activity are a leading indicator of party-system realignment. Today, the Tea Party phenomenon and the new militant unionism are mostly movements within the major parties instead of new parties in their own right. Nonetheless, they signal a high level of political dissatisfaction and the potential for party realignment today. This book looks at the recent history of minor parties and electoral protest in the U.S and analyzes their chances of success in terms of structural obstacles, economic incentives, and political realities.