The changing basis of political conflict in advanced western democracies : the politics of identity in the United States, the Netherlands, and Belgium / by Alan Arwine.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Arwine, Alan.

Contributor:

Palgrave Connect (Online service)

Series:

Palgrave pivot

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Group identity--Case studies.

Group identity.

Identity politics--Case studies.

Identity politics.

Minorities--Political activity--Case studies.

Minorities.

Minorities--Political activity.

Genre:

Electronic books.

Case studies.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

polychrome

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Palgrave Macmillan, [2013]

System Details:

text file

Summary:

This book is concerned with changes in the social structures, demographics, and issues in Western democracies along with the impact of those changes on party systems and policy outcomes. Three countries - the United States, the Netherlands, and Belgium - are examined to determine how they accommodate these changes. The United States is investigated as an example of a stable consolidated party system, the Netherlands is included as a representative fragmented parliamentary regime, and Belgium is an extreme example of a sub-culture alienated from the rest of the country. The conflict between the representation function and the function of forming a majority able to govern is stressed.

Contents:

Chapter One: Introduction: The Forces Producing the New Politics of Identity

The Impact of Modernization on the Cleavage Structure in the West

Populism in the Modern World

The Challenge to Classic Conservatism in the West

Cultural Change in Western Nations

Classic Conservatism and the Centrist Left

Tolerance and the Politics of Identity

Political Change and the Role of Ideas

Conclusion

References

Chapter Two: Political Change in a Stable Two Party State: The United States

The Electoral System

Party System Accommodation to Cultural Change in an Aggregated Two Party System

American Populism as a Response to Socio-Economic Change in the United States

The Social Context of Politics in the United States and Social Change

The U.S. Party System and a Changing Cleavage Structure

The Return of Populism in Contemporary America

The Emerging Politics of Identity

The Mobilization of the American Electorate

Ideas and Ideology in the American Political System

Conclusions: A Stable Party System and a Changing Electorate

Chapter Three: The Netherlands: Politics in a Fragmented Culture

A Parliamentary System in a Fragmented Society

The Rise and Decline of Pillarization and the Consociational Accommodation

A Tolerant Society and the Muslim Challenge

The Accommodation of the Party System to a Changing Society

Conclusions: Party System Adaptation to a Changing Culture

Chapter Four: Belgium: The Politics of Extreme Segmentation

The Consociational Model for Segmented Societies

Constitutional Change: Accommodating a Segmented Culture

The Belgian Political Party System: Accommodating Cultural Change

The Regime Format of a Culturally Segmented Political System

Conclusion: The Issue of Identity in a Culturally Segmented Society

Chapter Five: Conclusions: Patterns of Change in Advanced Western Democracies

The Declining Salience of Socio-Economic Class

The State in the Crisis of Economic Stagnation

Party System Change in Europe

Trends and Changes in the Constitutionally Designated Structures of Western Democracies

The Americanization of the Politics of Western Democracies

The Twilight of the Nation-State?

The Inexorability of Political Change.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

Other Format:

Print version: Arwine, Alan. Changing basis of political conflict in advanced western democracies.

ISBN:

9781137306654

1137306653

OCLC:

841487547

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.