RELEASE EMBARGO DATE: MAY 1, 2013 AT 9 AM

Panel: Democracy and Economic Crisis (Regency Room)
Date/Time: Wednesday, May 1, 2013 / 17:00-18:15
Talking Points for: Morris Fiorina, Stanford University

After a long period of divided party control with mostly Republican presidents in the late 20th century, the United States has now entered a period of electoral instability not seen since the late 19th Century. From unified Republican control established by the 2000-2004 elections, the country has gone to divided party control after the 2006 elections, to unified Democratic control in 2008, and back to divided party control in 2010 and 2012. The partisan and ideological leanings of the American electorate have changed little in the past generation. The electoral instability evident in recent elections may be a reflection of the difficulties parties face when dealing with a complex of new, divisive issues, such as globalization, immigration, economic transformation and rising income inequality. Similar conditions prevailed during the late 19th century period of electoral instability.