Upending American politics: polarizing parties, ideological elites, and citizen activists from the Tea Party to the anti-Trump resistance

'Upending American Politics' offers a fresh perspective on recent, radical turns in American politics, from the Tea Parties starting in 2009 and anti-Trump resistance groups starting in late 2016. The volume provides insightful answers to key questions: Why has partisan polarization unfolded in a heavily rightward-tilted manner that sees Republicans embracing ever-more extreme positions? Why have widespread grassroots citizens movements erupted twice just eight years, and what impact have these movements had on the major political parties?

"Analysts and citizens alike struggle to comprehend recent gyrations in U.S. politics. The country did an apparent U-turn in just eight short years, from the election of Barack Obama and an all-Democratic Congress in 2008 to the election of Donald Trump and confirmation of GOP control of Congress in 2016. Twice in under a decade, ordinary citizens reacted by organizing local grassroots groups all over the country - with Tea Parties starting in 2009 and anti-Trump resistance groups starting in late 2016. Upending American Politics offers a fresh perspective on these developments by focusing on recent and newly changing organizational configurations, such as the voluntary local citizens' groups, elite advocacy organizations, consortia of wealthy donors, and candidate-led political campaigns. Contributors have collected many new kinds of data to document and probe changing organizational configurations at the national level and in the pivotal states of Wisconsin, North Carolina, Michigan, Florida, Texas, and Pennsylvania. The volume offers insightful answers to key questions: Why has partisan polarization unfolded in a heavily rightward-tilted manner that sees Republicans embracing ever-more extreme positions? Why have widespread grassroots citizens movements erupted twice just eight years, and what impact have these movements had on the major political parties?"--