The Inevitable Party

"A dissenting voice in the cacophony of advocates for party reform... offers a compelling argument that "reform" at best offers temporary respite, and that reformers might what to adapt our institutions to the parties instead." --Choice "Using sophisticated analyses of historical and contemporary reform efforts in the states, Masket demonstrates that parties are not hapless victims of legal restrictions placed on their activities but resourceful and adaptive networks that remain essential instruments of American democracy." --Thomas E. Mann, Senior Fellow, Governance Studies, Brookings Institution "How and why does the American political world sort itself into two distinct parties? This book is a must read for anyone interested in that basic question. It has both theory and evidence." --David R. Mayhew, Sterling Professor of Political Science, Yale University "Using careful mixed-method case studies at the state level, Masket arrives at the powerful conclusion that anti-party reforms do little damage to parties (which remain adaptable and tenacious), but do much to decrease transparency and accountability. The argument is skillfully woven and deftly executed: democracy suffers, parties do not." --Jessica Trounstine, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of California, Merced