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Beyond the left–right cleavage: Exploring American political choice space

Author

Listed:
  • Melvin Hinich

    (Department of Government and Department of Economics, University of Texas, USA)

  • Xinsheng Liu

    (Institute for Science, Technology and Public Policy, Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University, USA)

  • Arnold Vedlitz

    (Institute for Science, Technology and Public Policy, Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University, USA)

  • Charles Lindsey

    (StataCorp, College Station, Texas, USA)

Abstract

Following spatial choice theory and MAP methodology, we employ the data drawn from recent nationwide public opinion surveys to probe the latent political choice space in American political competition. Our analyses demonstrate that, in addition to the traditional left–right ideology continuum, there is a second distinct dimension in American political choice space. More importantly, the results from our regression analyses suggest that the second dimension seems to be driven by a cleavage among different reform prospects, ranging from low-politics reformism, to politics-as-usual approach, to high-politics style of change.

Suggested Citation

  • Melvin Hinich & Xinsheng Liu & Arnold Vedlitz & Charles Lindsey, 2013. "Beyond the left–right cleavage: Exploring American political choice space," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 25(1), pages 75-104, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jothpo:v:25:y:2013:i:1:p:75-104
    DOI: 10.1177/0951629812453215
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Enelow,James M. & Hinich,Melvin J., 1984. "The Spatial Theory of Voting," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521275156, January.
    2. B. Dan Wood & Arnold Vedlitz, 2007. "Issue Definition, Information Processing, and the Politics of Global Warming," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 51(3), pages 552-568, July.
    3. Anthony Downs, 1957. "An Economic Theory of Political Action in a Democracy," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 65(2), pages 135-135.
    4. Rabinowitz, George & Macdonald, Stuart Elaine, 1989. "A Directional Theory of Issue Voting," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 83(1), pages 93-121, March.
    5. Henry Brady, 1989. "Factor and ideal point analysis for interpersonally incomparable data," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 54(2), pages 181-202, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Xinsheng Liu & Kent E. Portney & Jeryl L. Mumpower & Arnold Vedlitz, 2019. "Terrorism Risk Assessment, Recollection Bias, and Public Support for Counterterrorism Policy and Spending," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 39(3), pages 553-570, March.

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