Beyond the Red and Blue: The Pivotal Role of Third-Parties in American Presidential Elections Abby Tabachini Introduction & Thesis Statement Throughout the pages of American history, the presence of third-parties has often been perceived as a disruptive force in presidential elections. Third-party candidates are often looked at as dissenting voices who challenge the dominance of the American two-party system as their presence offers voters an alternative candidate to cast their vote for. While many Americans view a third-party candidate as a “wasted vote” in elections or simply overlook the candidate altogether as they are viewed as having no shot at winning, third-party candidates have been making undeniable marks in American presidential …show more content…
Understanding the historical influence of third-party candidates' presence in presidential elections is not only important in helping Americans better understand their country’s past, it is also significant for the future of American politics and elections. As the 2024 presidential election is quickly approaching, Americans find themselves “deeply dissatisfied” with the two party nominees: incumbent President Joe Biden for the Democrats and former President Donald Trump for the Republicans (NYT). Candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has launched his hat into the third-party rink as an independent, in a bid for president that could potentially shift the tide of the election. With a pivotal election on the line for both parties, and American discontent towards the government only growing, it is critical to understand the historical influence of third-parties in order to better grasp the current and future trajectory of American politics. My thesis looks to explore the intersection of the historical …show more content…
Tentatively this includes the following presidential elections: 1912, 1948, 1968, 1992, 2000, 2016. As I continue to review various literature and scholarship related to third-parties in presidential elections, I will alter this list as necessary. My examination of these specific elections will include an analysis of the third-party candidate, their campaign, why the candidate entered the race, historical context of the election year, and political context of the election year. This first stage of research will primarily be concerned with secondary sources, some of which are included in the annotated bibliography below. These secondary sources will be focused on providing coverage of the third-party candidates in the presidential elections indicated above, how the candidates impacted the election results, as well as what factors drove the American people to vote for the third-party candidate. In order to ensure I have a source base that properly encompasses my topic, I plan to meet with my thesis director, Dr. Kent Germany, as well as the university’s research librarians to collect additional sources that are not currently in my annotated bibliography. Meeting with these individuals will not only allow me to expand my source base, but get a better understanding and idea of where to scope out relevant secondary
21st Century Elections United States of America has been the country that was always seen as a powerful and strong by other countries. Our nation that was perceived before as a symbol of modernity and as a sign of example to follow was soon to change throughout the years and demonstrated on the elections of 2000 and 2004 where our nation set in stone the failure to maintain a quality on its political life as well as its elections. The political effect of the 2000 and 2004 elections had on the 2008
around a critical election, in which the shift in power transpires rapidly over the course of one election (Thomas Ferguson, 407). However, realignment can also transpire slowly, occurring over a period of many elections. The realignment theory is comprised of various characteristics that determines whether an election is critical or not. It is important to note that although realignment is comprised of characteristics, some of these characteristics will be evident in one election but not in another
for the candidate of their choice. No longer would Democratic voters in Tennessee want to stay home on Election Day because of feeling that they could not make a difference in such a red state. The same could be said about Republican voters in traditionally blue states. In any case, abolishing the Electoral College would at least make every potential voter feels as if his or her vote counted. Third, perhaps the best way to solve the problem of low voter turnout would be to make voting compulsory. It
Park Chung Hee's presidency from 1963 to 1979 played a pivotal role in South Korea's modernization and economic growth after colonial rule and the destruction of the Korean War. However, his authoritarian rule saw many human rights abuses and political oppression. The postwar period in Korea was distinguished by economic disorganization and stagnation caused by the separation of the Korean economy from the Japanese economy and the partition of Korea. Korea became dependent foreign aid. In addition
lasting up to the current Obama doctrine, presidential doctrines have dominated American foreign policy. A presidential doctrine highlights the key goals and positions for United States foreign affairs outlined by a president. Many of the country’s major foreign policy successes or disasters can be explained by tracing the doctrines of sitting or previous presidents and analyzing their evolution and eventual impact on world events. After a presidential doctrine has been established it achieves a
1997:157). This is explained by the thought that economic development brings complexity to social structures making them harder to control; in addition, technological advancement has allowed autonomy and privacy when information is concerned and the role played by (Prezweorski &Limongi, 1997:157). When there is room for autonomy varies groups whether their elitists or not begin to feel like they can challenge autocratic rule thus prompting political reform (Prezweorski &Limongi, 1997:157). This theory
aforementioned words as the American flag burns in the background. However, even more visually striking is the scene in the foreground of the poster, with a depiction of what appears to be Soviet soldiers murdering two American Soldiers and raping a third woman. A banner beneath this reads: America under communism! This presents the message of the poster; that a dystopic future awaits the American public if they allow their nation to succumb to the pressures of Soviet communism. However, it should be
The Nation of Israel The nation of Israel has played a critical role in the formation of Western and Eastern ideologies and has had an unmistakably profound impact upon the theological and cultural evolution of mankind. Former U.S. President John Adams, commenting on the historical importance of the Hebrews, once said the following: "I will insist the Hebrews have [contributed] more to civilize men than any other nation. If I was an atheist and believed in blind eternal fate, I should still