Challengers to Duopoly: Why Third Parties Matter in American Two-Party Politics - Paperback

by David J. Gillespie (Author), J. David Gillespie (Author)

Building on the foundational importance of its predecessor (Politics at the Periphery, 1993), Challengers to Duopoly offers an up-to-date overview of the important history of America's third parties and the challenge they represent to the hegemony of the major parties. J. David Gillespie introduces readers to minor partisan actors of three types: short-lived national parties, continuing doctrinal and issue parties, and the state and local significant others. Woven into these accounts are profiles of some of the individuals who have taken the initiative to found and lead these parties. Ross Perot, Ralph Nader, Jesse Ventura, and other recent and contemporary electoral insurgents are featured, along with the most significant current national and state parties challenging the primacy of the two major parties.

Front Jacket

A comprehensive history and thoughtful evaluation of American third parties

Back Jacket

A comprehensive history and thoughtful evaluation of American third parties

Author Biography

J. David Gillespie teaches political science at the College of Charleston and the Citadel. Selected as the 1993 Carnegie-Case South Carolina Professor of the Year, Gillespie was a member of the Presbyterian College faculty in political science from 1979 to 2006 and that institution's vice president for academic affairs from 1997 to 2005. He has written extensively on third parties and has provided testimony in federal and state ballot access cases.