Powerful cross-currents of both decline and resurgence have been affecting American political parties over the past several decades. Is the era of decline that began in the late 1960s over? Are the parties in a new era of rebuilding? In what direction are the parties headed? American Political Parties explores these questions in language that is accessible to a wide audience -including students, researchers, and interested citizens seeking a broad overview of current "state of the art" thinking about the U.S. parties. This collection of original research presents both historical and contemporary material on the changing U.S. political parties. It brings together a wide variety of views and presents a balanced portrait of the parties - both their continuing weaknesses and their signs of revitalization.