Letter/Communication
A Modest Proposal. Response to: The Case for More Parties - Lee Drutman
Boston Review
09 Sep 2024
Abstract
The measure of any reform proposal is twofold. Is it a good idea, and is it possible?
Drutman’s call to restore fusion is both. It is a good idea because it is a party-centric reform with real potential to leverage meaningful democratic returns. We must reconcile ourselves to this core idea: “Modern representative democracy is party democracy.” There is no way out of the party system, but this does not mean that it couldn’t be better. Our contemporary party system is broken both because it is nationalized and because it only has space for two sides. Fusion politics offers a promising path out of this “doom loop.” When third parties can only act as spoilers, their electoral appeal is limited, and they have no incentive to be serious. Allow them a real seat at the table and they will do the associative work of a party, connecting citizens to the government, building power, and delivering legislative goods by negotiating deals.
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Details
- Title
- A Modest Proposal. Response to: The Case for More Parties - Lee Drutman
- Creators
- Tabatha A Abu El-Haj - Drexel University, Thomas R. Kline School of Law
- Publication Details
- Boston Review
- Resource Type
- Letter/Communication
- Academic Unit
- Thomas R. Kline School of Law
- Other Identifier
- 991022199150704721