In Defense of Ideology
Reexamining the Role of Ideology in the American Electorate

Using recent survey and experimental data, this Element repudiates arguments that most Americans are incapable of ideological thinking.

Elizabeth N. Simas (Author)

9781009228176, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 11 May 2023

75 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 0.4 cm, 0.614 kg

Years of collective political science research has fueled the stereotype of the uninformed or illogical American voter who ardently supports parties or candidates but lacks any cohesive ideological reasons for doing so. Prior works, however, do not tell the whole story nor fully capture the nature of public opinion in today's increasingly polarized political environment. Thus, this Element makes the case for more careful and nuanced assessments of ideological thinking in the American electorate. Using a variety of more contemporary survey and experimental data, it shows that a substantial portion of Americans do hold coherent political beliefs and that these beliefs have important consequences for the American political system. Though partisanship still plays a powerful role, the electorate as this Element presents it is much more ideological than the literature too often assumes.

1. Reopening the Argument
2. Another Look at Issue Attitudes
3. The Use and Meaning of Ideological Labels
4. The Importance of Ideology
5. Not That Innocent.

Subject Areas: Constitution: government & the state [JPHC]