Social Cleavages and Political Change: Voter Alignment and U. S. Party Coalitions

This study provides the first systematic book-length reassessment and restatement of the sociological approach to American politics in more than 20 years. It examines the changing nature of social cleavages and their effect on political allegiances and voting behavior in the United States since the 1950s. It also challenges widespread arguments that the importance of social cleavages have declined precipitously in recent years.