THE RISE OF IDEOLOGY IN THE POST-NEW DEAL PARTY SYSTEM, 1972-1992

Scholars argue that the social structural basis of the party system in the United States developed during the New Deal era has weakened, res ulting in an increasing tendency for ideology to shape partisan suppor t. We test this proposition by examining the role of ideology in the f ormation of partisanship in the United States over the last two decade s. We find that, over the last 20 years, ideology has played an increa sing role in shaping partisanship, one that cuts across traditional Ne w Deal social group cleavages.