Hypothetical Political Landscape

This is a rather difficult hypothetical to ponder. We discussed this unlikely possibility in a previous module. I cannot even fathom the demise of one of the two major parties, but for the sake of argument, it should be considered.

For countless partisan reasons, I choose the destruction of the Republican Party. It is hard to imagine the political chaos that would ensue in the aftermath of this event, in an effort to fill this massive power vacuum. In Dynamics of the Party System by James L. Sundquist, A New York Times article is quoted as suggesting that during the late 1960's and early 1970's, America was experiencing a profound political transition that could possibly lead to a fragmented system of four or five parties based on the European model and also that the modern political party as we know it was becoming obsolete. While this theory was posed around forty years ago, I do not believe that this scenario was ever at all feasible, however, it is interesting to consider if only for its radical nature.

A more realistic possibility involves a sort of reincarnation of the Republican Party equipped with a more refined message. The G.O.P. is hopelessly out of touch with a majority of the electorate on a number of issues, more specifically of the social variety, and desperately needs to modify their views. If this does not occur, they run the risk of alienating more of the voting population and making it increasingly difficult for them to win national elections, thereby further marginalizing themselves as a major party.

If the G.O.P. would take a more moderate stance, then it can be logically assumed that there would be dissent ion in the ranks of the extreme right of the party. This possible revolt could lead to the formation of a fringe third party that would restore the clear ideological divide that would be more ambiguous in the event of a Republican shift to the middle.

In one of our readings pertaining to third parties in America authored by J. David Gillespie, it is suggested that one possible genesis of a third party is as a faction that decides to secede from a major party. This type of secessionist party could take this action in the hope of forcing their party to acquiesce to their ideological demands or to become relevant themselves as a separate party. Again, I do not anticipate any of this actually coming to pass, but it is fun to speculate.