If it seems like party loyalty doesn’t mean much in politics these days, it might be because the parties themselves don’t hold much sway.
Political scientists Sam Rosenfeld and Daniel Schlozman explore this in their new book, *Hollow Parties: The Many Pasts and Disordered Present of American Party Politics*. According to them, the U.S. political system is grappling with a paradox: Parties seem to be everywhere—on ballots, at conventions, in debates—but they’re struggling to do the essential work of political parties, like maintaining ideological discipline or building strong electoral coalitions.
Rosenfeld and Schlozman describe the current state of American parties as “strong on the outside, but nothing on the inside.” This isn’t just an issue for the parties; it’s a problem for American democracy as a whole.
In a recent conversation, I asked the authors about the implications of this “hollowness.” What makes it so dangerous for democracy?
Sam Rosenfeld explained that hollow parties, in a polarized era, have opened the door for figures like Donald Trump. The Republican Party’s inability to prevent Trump’s hostile takeover in 2016 is a classic example of party hollowness, and his leadership since then represents a significant threat to American democracy.
But there’s a broader issue at play, too. Political parties are key players in democratic systems. They help individuals make sense of democratic politics, linking citizens to their government. Through parties, norms like forbearance, respect for rules, and peaceful transitions of power are upheld. When parties lose their effectiveness, these norms weaken, creating a vacuum for those who don’t share these democratic values to step in and seize power.
In short, if parties can’t do their job, the democratic system is at risk. Without strong parties, it becomes harder for the democratic process to function, potentially leading to deeper polarization, instability, and threats to the basic principles of democracy.
