Encyclopedia of Third Parties in America - Hardcover

Ness, Immanuel; Ciment, James

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0765680203 ISBN 13: 9780765680204

Publisher: Routledge, 2006

Synopsis

This reference features a section on the history of third parties in America since the Early Republic, and bibliographies of major players and candidates. Coverage ranges from national, regional, and state parties to the major political parties that predate the Democrats and the Republicans.

About this title

From Booklist:

This reference source covers alternative American political parties throughout U.S. history--the leaders, the ideological roots, the positions on particular issues of their time, and how well they fared in the political arena.

The introduction discusses some of the common characteristics third parties share with one another, how they have risen and fallen throughout American history, and their influence on our politics and history. The encyclopedia is organized into four sections: a chronological survey of historical epochs (e.g., "The Jacksonian Age, 1824^-1860"; "The Progressive Era, 1896^-1932") and an essay on the relationship between American law and third parties; 40 maps providing a geographic picture of how successful some third parties were in parts of the U.S.; more than 115 extended entries on third parties; and biographical sketches of major players in third-party politics. Some of these biographies are quite detailed (the one on Ross Perot, for example, is almost five pages long), and all are cross-referenced to entries for relevant parties. Following the biographies is a 13-page glossary of terms, a 25-page bibliography that includes Web site addresses of current nonmainstream political parties in the U.S., and three very complete indexes (subject, biographical, and geographical).

Overall, the party entries, which constitute the main body of the encyclopedia, are very informative and well organized, especially those related to U.S. history. However, some of the entries on contemporary third parties appear to be disproportionately long and magnify their importance or ignore less desirable aspects of the party. For example, the measured article on the Vermont Progressive Coalition, which spawned the successful congressional candidacy of Representative Bernie Sanders, is seven pages, while the entry on the older and still-existing Peace and Freedom party is only four pages. The entry on the Reform party ignores ties to the controversial and now-defunct New Alliance party, although the entry on the New Alliance party does have a see also reference to Reform party.

Many standard encyclopedias on American politics and history adequately cover various aspects of third-party politics, but this set pulls the topic together, making it easy for readers and students to access information on this narrow slice of American politics. It is simply and clearly written, well organized, and generally accurate. Recommended especially for university and research libraries, large four-year colleges, and large public libraries.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

From Library Journal:

In a year when the two major parties are gathering most of the media's attention, it's easy to overlook the activities of the Reform Party and other minor parties. But the editors of this excellent three-volume encyclopedia (Ness, Brooklyn Coll.; Ciment, New School) have produced a valuable reference tool for anyone interested in America's third parties, of which more than 115 are covered here. (Numerous studies cover third-party politics in America, but as a reference source this work has little company.) Entries embrace this country's entire history, with extended essays that describe various third-party movements, their political, social, and economic bases, and their activities in mobilizing the electorate. There are also biographies (varying in length) of the major figures in these parties, from the leaders of the Anti-Masonic or Know Nothing Party and the Bull Moose Party's Teddy Roosevelt to the candidacies of Strom Thurmond and George Wallace to the third-party leaders of today. The entries are rich in information and devoid of academic jargon, making this encyclopedia an appropriate addition to any library.
-Thomas J. Baldino, Wilkes Univ., PA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0765680203
• ISBN 13: 9780765680204
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 900