The study of political parties has usually focused on the organizations themselves and their roles in government and politics. Politicians and Party Politics shifts the spotlight to the individuals who make up political parties -- the politician as member of a political party, the politician as part of the political process, and the politician in relation to his or her constituents. With thirteen essays from a distinguished group of contributors, this volume examines how politicians as party members motivate voters, how they conduct campaigns, and how they behave in government.

With interests ranging from public opinion research to democratic theory, the contributors bring a wide array of new theories and new data to bear on age-old problems. They offer a new way to think about party coalitions, question the benefits of two-party competition, and focus on politics as a vocation. By putting the politician center stage and examining issues from a variety of viewpoints, this insightful volume advances the argument that, to understand party politics, one must understand the motives and actions of politicians themselves.

Contributors: Larry M. Bartels, Robert A. Dahl, James DeNardo, John G. Geer, Fred I. Greenstein, Ikuo Kabashima, Stanley Kelley, Jr., Jonathan S. Krasno, David R. Mayhew, Walter F. Murphy, Gerald M. Pomper, Thomas R. Rochon, Carol M. Swain, and John Zaller