The Rhode Island Democratic Party in the 21st Century: A Study of Political Party Change

• In Event: 594 - Section on Political Sociology Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Section on Political Sociology Roundtables (one-hour). Table 01. Parties and Networks

Abstract

Political sociologists have long been interested in the study of political parties. In their analyses, sociologists have developed a diversity of perspectives on the functions of political parties, the structure of their organizational forms, and the nature of their relations to the state and to society. While these studies have established rich frameworks for the analysis of political parties in their diversity of forms, few scholars have explained how it is that political parties change from one form to another. Using the Rhode Island Democratic Party as a case, this study contributes to the sociological literature on political parties by explaining how the Democratic Party changed from a robust, labor-backed machine to a party characterized by increased government oversight and pro-business policy reform. This study finds that an individualization and diversification of Democratic candidates’ bases of campaign support, coupled with a rupture in the relationship between organized labor and the formal party organization, encouraged Democratic candidates to seek support beyond labor and the formal party. Together, these changes engendered profound organizational and policy changes for the party as a whole.

Author

• Johnnie Anne Lotesta, Brown University