American politics are currently dominated by the Republican and Democratic parties, it has been this way for well over 50 years. Both the Democrats and Republicans claim to represent whole of the ideological spectrum that exists within the United States, with the Democratic Party saying they represent the "left" and the Republican Party saying they represent the "right".
For as long as these two parties have existed, there have been gripes about how they function. How well the two parties effectively represent the "right" and the "left" of the political spectrum has always been up for debate. Because of this apparent gap in opinion between the two parties and the general population, "third parties" have attempted to gain influence in American politics.
Truthfully, third parties have largely been failures in American politics, they have never held much political power in United States, save for having a claim to being "spoilers" in some elections.
Elected officials at all levels of government that can be affirmatively labeled as members of third parties, in that they are not also Democrats, Republicans, or Independents, only hold 15 seats. Not a single member of Congress can be said to be a representative of a third party.
This failure to achieve, let alone maintain, any semblance of political power can largely be blamed on the political strategy with which third parties operate. The Green Party and the Libertarian Party, two of the more well-known third parties, can be seen as good examples of how third party political strategies have failed.
Flash-points of American politics, such as presidential elections, are when third parties try to gain popularity. Americans tend to pay attention to politics more when big name offices like the presidency are at stake. Third parties have largely operated under the belief that if they can gain popularity in presidential elections, it could lead to them gaining popularity at other levels of political office.
Jill Stein and Gary Johnson, of the Green and Libertarian parties respectively, are the latest example of candidates that represent third parties attempting this strategy. While they obtained a surprisingly large amount of popularity during the 2016 election cycle, they ultimately lost and their party's respective popularity did not increase. Take New York state as an example, my home state. It is a safely center-left or left state with a relatively conservative northern population, yet third parties don't hold a single seat in the state legislature as of 2017. Hoping that big scale elections can lead to successful party building is a failed strategy.
This article is not purely an indictment of third parties. In fact, third parties have incredible potential. Polls show that a majority of Americans have an unfavorable opinion of the Democratic Party by a margin of 49.7% to 38.1%. Americans have an unfavorable opinion of the Republican Party to a greater degree, with a margin of 55.9% to 33%.
Third parties have not capitalized on their potential, they have not operated in the most effective manner available. The "left" and the "right" clearly don't enjoy having Democrats and Republicans as their sole representatives, something has to change.
Third parties should begin as grassroots movements. They should work to get candidates elected to city councils, to school boards, to community boards, and state legislatures. The Presidency and Congress can wait, those seats will become much more attainable as the third parties build increasingly influential bases in local and state politics. The parties need to familiarize themselves with the general public before seeking national office.
The 2016 presidential election, and the campaign of Bernie Sanders, exposed just how dissatisfied the "left" is with the Democratic Party. Socialist movements arose out of this dissatisfaction, beginning to build a political coalition through grassroots politics and social movements. The Democratic Socialists of America, and their college campus offshoot the Young Democratic Socialists of America, are one such group that is part of this "socialist wave".
These two groups, acting almost as one, have attempted to build a political coalition through local politics. YDS groups are on college campuses, directly interacting with the next generation of American voters and political actors. DSA is but one of many socialist groups that can be found either organizing or being part of the many protests that have occurred around the country since Trump's election.
The modern socialist movement is recognizing the rift that exists between the "left" and the Democratic Party. They are beginning to take a new approach to third party coalition building. By focusing on local politics, as opposed to believing that political popularity can be built through sudden flashes in the national spotlight, they are taking the first steps in building a third party and changing American politics.
Politics in the United States can only be improved should more third parties take cues from the socialist movement. The grassroots and local/state politics approach to party building is the best option available to modern third parties.
For as long as these two parties have existed, there have been gripes about how they function. How well the two parties effectively represent the "right" and the "left" of the political spectrum has always been up for debate. Because of this apparent gap in opinion between the two parties and the general population, "third parties" have attempted to gain influence in American politics.
Truthfully, third parties have largely been failures in American politics, they have never held much political power in United States, save for having a claim to being "spoilers" in some elections.
Elected officials at all levels of government that can be affirmatively labeled as members of third parties, in that they are not also Democrats, Republicans, or Independents, only hold 15 seats. Not a single member of Congress can be said to be a representative of a third party.
This failure to achieve, let alone maintain, any semblance of political power can largely be blamed on the political strategy with which third parties operate. The Green Party and the Libertarian Party, two of the more well-known third parties, can be seen as good examples of how third party political strategies have failed.
Flash-points of American politics, such as presidential elections, are when third parties try to gain popularity. Americans tend to pay attention to politics more when big name offices like the presidency are at stake. Third parties have largely operated under the belief that if they can gain popularity in presidential elections, it could lead to them gaining popularity at other levels of political office.
Jill Stein and Gary Johnson, of the Green and Libertarian parties respectively, are the latest example of candidates that represent third parties attempting this strategy. While they obtained a surprisingly large amount of popularity during the 2016 election cycle, they ultimately lost and their party's respective popularity did not increase. Take New York state as an example, my home state. It is a safely center-left or left state with a relatively conservative northern population, yet third parties don't hold a single seat in the state legislature as of 2017. Hoping that big scale elections can lead to successful party building is a failed strategy.
This article is not purely an indictment of third parties. In fact, third parties have incredible potential. Polls show that a majority of Americans have an unfavorable opinion of the Democratic Party by a margin of 49.7% to 38.1%. Americans have an unfavorable opinion of the Republican Party to a greater degree, with a margin of 55.9% to 33%.
Third parties have not capitalized on their potential, they have not operated in the most effective manner available. The "left" and the "right" clearly don't enjoy having Democrats and Republicans as their sole representatives, something has to change.
Third parties should begin as grassroots movements. They should work to get candidates elected to city councils, to school boards, to community boards, and state legislatures. The Presidency and Congress can wait, those seats will become much more attainable as the third parties build increasingly influential bases in local and state politics. The parties need to familiarize themselves with the general public before seeking national office.
The 2016 presidential election, and the campaign of Bernie Sanders, exposed just how dissatisfied the "left" is with the Democratic Party. Socialist movements arose out of this dissatisfaction, beginning to build a political coalition through grassroots politics and social movements. The Democratic Socialists of America, and their college campus offshoot the Young Democratic Socialists of America, are one such group that is part of this "socialist wave".
These two groups, acting almost as one, have attempted to build a political coalition through local politics. YDS groups are on college campuses, directly interacting with the next generation of American voters and political actors. DSA is but one of many socialist groups that can be found either organizing or being part of the many protests that have occurred around the country since Trump's election.
The modern socialist movement is recognizing the rift that exists between the "left" and the Democratic Party. They are beginning to take a new approach to third party coalition building. By focusing on local politics, as opposed to believing that political popularity can be built through sudden flashes in the national spotlight, they are taking the first steps in building a third party and changing American politics.
Politics in the United States can only be improved should more third parties take cues from the socialist movement. The grassroots and local/state politics approach to party building is the best option available to modern third parties.