The American Voter
Encyclopedia
The American Voter, published in 1960, is a seminal study of voting
behavior in the United States
, authored by Angus Campbell, Philip Converse
, Warren Miller
, and Donald Stokes, colleagues at the University of Michigan
. Among its controversial conclusions, based on one of the first comprehensive studies of election survey data (what eventually became the National Election Studies
), is that most voters cast their ballots primarily on the basis of partisan identification (which is often simply inherited from their parents), and that independent voters are actually the least involved in and attentive to politics.
The American Voter established a baseline for most of the scholarly debate that has followed in the decades since. Criticism has followed along several different lines. Some argue that Campbell and his colleagues set the bar too high, expecting voters to be far more sophisticated and rational than is reasonable. Some scholars, most notably V. O. Key, Jr.
(in The Responsible Electorate) have argued, in part based on reinterpretation of the same data, that voters are more rational than The American Voter gives them credit for. His famous line "Voters are not fools" summarizes this view. Successors in the Michigan school have argued that in relying heavily on data from the 1956 presidential election, The American Voter drew conclusions which were not accurate over time; in particular, partisan identification has weakened in the years since 1956, a phenomenon sometimes known as dealignment
(see realigning election
). "The American Voter" has served as a springboard from which many modern political scientists form their views on voting behavior even though the study only represents one specific time in one particular place.
Warren Miller
and Merrill Shanks from the University of California, Berkeley
have revisited many of these questions in The New American Voter, which argues against the dealignment notion, preferring the term "nonalignment" based on their conclusion that the decline in partisan identification is mostly a matter of new voters not aligning with a party, rather than older voters abandoning their previous allegiances.
Voting
Voting is a method for a group such as a meeting or an electorate to make a decision or express an opinion—often following discussions, debates, or election campaigns. It is often found in democracies and republics.- Reasons for voting :...
behavior in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, authored by Angus Campbell, Philip Converse
Philip Converse
Philip Ernest Converse is an American political scientist. He is a professor emeritus in political science at the University of Michigan, is a seminal figure in the field of public opinion. His article "The Nature of Belief Systems in Mass Publics" Philip Ernest Converse (born 1928) is an...
, Warren Miller
Warren Miller (political scientist)
Warren Miller was an American political scientist in the field of American political behavior. Best known as a co-author of the seminal book, The American Voter, alongside Angus Campell, Philip Converse and Donald Stokes, which provided the basis for the social-psychological "Michigan school" of...
, and Donald Stokes, colleagues at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. Among its controversial conclusions, based on one of the first comprehensive studies of election survey data (what eventually became the National Election Studies
National Election Studies
The American National Election Studies is the leading academically-run national survey of voters in the United States, conducted before and after every presidential election. Though the ANES was formally established by a National Science Foundation grant in 1977, the data are a continuation of...
), is that most voters cast their ballots primarily on the basis of partisan identification (which is often simply inherited from their parents), and that independent voters are actually the least involved in and attentive to politics.
The American Voter established a baseline for most of the scholarly debate that has followed in the decades since. Criticism has followed along several different lines. Some argue that Campbell and his colleagues set the bar too high, expecting voters to be far more sophisticated and rational than is reasonable. Some scholars, most notably V. O. Key, Jr.
V. O. Key, Jr.
Valdimer Orlando Key, Jr. , usually known simply as V. O. Key, was an influential American political scientist known for his empirical study of elections and voting behavior.-Biography:...
(in The Responsible Electorate) have argued, in part based on reinterpretation of the same data, that voters are more rational than The American Voter gives them credit for. His famous line "Voters are not fools" summarizes this view. Successors in the Michigan school have argued that in relying heavily on data from the 1956 presidential election, The American Voter drew conclusions which were not accurate over time; in particular, partisan identification has weakened in the years since 1956, a phenomenon sometimes known as dealignment
Dealignment
Dealignment, in political science, is a trend or process whereby a large portion of the electorate abandons its previous partisan affiliation, without developing a new one to replace it. It is contrasted with realignment....
(see realigning election
Realigning election
Realigning election are terms from political science and political history describing a dramatic change in the political system. Scholars frequently apply the term to American elections and occasionally to other countries...
). "The American Voter" has served as a springboard from which many modern political scientists form their views on voting behavior even though the study only represents one specific time in one particular place.
Warren Miller
Warren Miller
Warren Miller may refer to:* Warren Miller * Warren Miller * Warren Miller * Warren Miller * Warren Miller...
and Merrill Shanks from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
have revisited many of these questions in The New American Voter, which argues against the dealignment notion, preferring the term "nonalignment" based on their conclusion that the decline in partisan identification is mostly a matter of new voters not aligning with a party, rather than older voters abandoning their previous allegiances.