New Books Network Didi Kuo, "The Great Retreat: How Political Parties Should Behave and Why They Don't" (Oxford UP, 2025)
Jul 4, 2025
Didi Kuo, a Center Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, discusses her book on the deteriorating state of political parties in democracies. She highlights how these institutions, once central to governance, have eroded trust and connection with citizens. Kuo explores the historical shifts in party dynamics, particularly in the U.S., and the implications of neoliberal policies on political engagement. She emphasizes the urgent need to strengthen parties to better represent diverse interests and restore faith in the democratic process.
53:25
Parties as Vital Intermediaries
- Political parties serve as crucial intermediaries between citizens and governments.
- Despite their importance, parties are increasingly unpopular and perceived as barriers to democracy.
Kuo's Political Roots in Georgia
- Didi Kuo grew up observing significant shifts in US political party alignments during the 1990s.
- This personal experience fueled her interest in how parties change and influence electorates.
Class Realignment in Parties
- Post-war parties often represented clear class interests, left parties linked to working class, right parties to capitalist interests.
- Neoliberalism in the 1980s shifted left parties towards market-friendly policies, blurring traditional class-based distinctions.
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Intro
00:00 • 4min
Shifts in American Political Party Dynamics
04:01 • 7min
The Evolution and Role of Political Parties
10:45 • 12min
The Impact of Declining Union Membership on Political Parties
22:17 • 3min
Shifting Political Dynamics: Neoliberalism and Populism
25:03 • 15min
Strengthening Political Parties in Democracy
40:26 • 13min
The Futurist Faction
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Progressive Neoconservatives Transform
Steve Teles
Robert Saldin
In 'The Futurist Faction: Progressive Neoconservatives and the Transformation of the Republican Party,' Steve Teles and Robert Saldin examine the rise of the Futurist faction within the Republican Party, exploring its impact on conservative politics and policy. The book traces the origins of the Futurist movement to the early 2000s, highlighting the influence of intellectuals and activists who sought to modernize conservative thought and adapt it to the challenges of the 21st century. Teles and Saldin analyze the key policy positions of the Futurists, including their support for market-based reforms, technological innovation, and a more assertive foreign policy. They also examine the internal dynamics of the Republican Party, showing how the Futurist faction has shaped the party's platform and its approach to governing. The book provides a valuable perspective on the evolution of conservative politics in the United States.
Party Government
Party Government
American Political Science
E.E. Schattschneider
E.E. Schattschneider's 'Party Government' is a classic work in American political science that examines the role of political parties in shaping democratic politics. The book argues that political parties are indispensable for a functioning democracy, as they provide a mechanism for structuring political competition and enabling popular control over government. Schattschneider emphasizes the importance of strong and responsible parties for promoting accountability, representing diverse interests, and formulating coherent public policies. He critiques the notion of a non-partisan or independent politics, arguing that it is unrealistic and ultimately undermines democratic governance. The book offers a compelling defense of party government as a vital component of a healthy and vibrant democracy.
Parties and Party Systems
Parties and Party Systems
A Framework for Analysis
Peter Mair
Giovanni Sartori
Giovanni Sartori's 'Parties and Party Systems: A Framework for Analysis' is a seminal work in political science. The book offers a comprehensive framework for understanding and analyzing political parties and party systems across different countries. It examines the functions of political parties, their internal organization, and their role in shaping political outcomes. Sartori distinguishes between different types of party systems, such as two-party systems and multi-party systems, and explores their implications for democracy and governance. The book has been highly influential in the field of comparative politics, providing scholars with a valuable tool for studying and comparing party systems around the world.
Don't Blame Us
Don't Blame Us
Understanding Inequality
Lily Geismar
In 'Don't Blame Us: Understanding Inequality,' Lily Geismer investigates the evolution of ideas about inequality in the United States, focusing on the rise of neoliberal perspectives that emphasize individual responsibility over structural factors. The book examines how policies aimed at poverty alleviation and social mobility have been framed in terms of personal choices and meritocratic competition, rather than addressing systemic barriers and inequalities. Geismer analyzes the role of think tanks, policymakers, and media outlets in shaping public discourse on inequality, highlighting the ways in which neoliberal ideas have influenced policy debates across the political spectrum. The book challenges the dominant narrative that inequality is a natural outcome of market forces, arguing that it is the result of specific policy choices and ideological commitments. By tracing the intellectual and political history of neoliberalism, Geismer sheds light on the complex dynamics that have contributed to rising inequality in contemporary society.
Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order
Gary Gerstle
In this book, Gary Gerstle examines America's recent history, focusing on the past forty years during which the nation embraced marketization, global economic integration, a harsh penal state, and increasing inequality. Gerstle discusses how neoliberalism emerged in the 1970s and 1980s, dominated American politics in the 1990s and 2000s, and began to fracture during the 2010s with the rise of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. He highlights the role of the Soviet Union's collapse in securing neoliberalism's triumph and analyzes how neoliberal policies, despite promising universal prosperity, failed to address economic inequality, leading to its eventual decline.
Left Neoliberalism
Left Neoliberalism
Stephanie Mudge
Stephanie Mudge's 'Left Neoliberalism?' explores the transformation of left-wing politics in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, focusing on the adoption of neoliberal policies by social democratic parties in Europe. The book examines the intellectual and political factors that contributed to this shift, including the rise of economic expertise, the decline of traditional working-class constituencies, and the perceived failures of Keynesian economics. Mudge argues that social democratic parties embraced neoliberalism as a pragmatic response to changing economic conditions, seeking to modernize their policy platforms and regain electoral competitiveness. However, this shift also led to a weakening of social protections, rising inequality, and a sense of betrayal among traditional left-wing voters. The book provides a nuanced and critical analysis of the complex relationship between neoliberalism and the left, shedding light on the challenges and dilemmas facing social democratic parties in the contemporary era.
On the side of the angels
Nancy Rosenblum
Nancy Rosenblum's 'On the Side of the Angels: An Appreciation of Parties and Partisanship' offers a compelling defense of political parties and partisanship in democratic societies. The book challenges the common perception of partisanship as divisive and harmful, arguing that it can actually promote civic engagement, accountability, and effective governance. Rosenblum explores the historical and theoretical foundations of political parties, examining their role in representing diverse interests, mobilizing voters, and shaping public policy. She highlights the importance of strong and competitive parties for maintaining a healthy democracy, while also acknowledging the potential risks of excessive polarization and ideological rigidity. Through insightful analysis and compelling arguments, Rosenblum makes a case for recognizing the positive contributions of parties and partisanship to democratic life.
Politics Is for Power
Eitan Hersh
In this book, Eitan Hersh argues that many people treat politics as a spectator sport, which he terms 'political hobbyism.' Instead of merely consuming political news or posting on social media, Hersh advocates for building political organizations, implementing long-term visions for local communities, and getting to know neighbors to accumulate power and make real change. The book is supported by cutting-edge social science and stories of ordinary citizens who have taken political power seriously, highlighting the importance of local, face-to-face networks and providing community services to rebuild political power at the grassroots level.
The Great Retreat
The Great Retreat
How Political Parties Should Behave and Why They Don't
Didi Kuo
The book argues that democracies require stronger political parties as intermediaries between citizens and governments. It explores the development of political parties as democracy expanded across the West in the nineteenth century, focusing on mass parties. It argues that the professionalization and nationalization of parties have led to a loss of organizational density. The erosion of political parties has contributed to the recent crisis of democratic capitalism. The book makes the case that strong intermediaries like mass parties are essential to long-term democratic stability and economic growth.
The Third Way
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How Democracies Die
Steven Levitsky
Daniel Ziblatt
In this book, Harvard professors Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt examine the breakdown of democracies, arguing that modern democracies do not die in a sudden coup but rather through the slow erosion of critical institutions and political norms. Drawing on decades of research and examples from 1930s Europe to contemporary cases in Hungary, Turkey, Venezuela, and the American South during Jim Crow, the authors highlight the importance of mutual toleration and forbearance in maintaining democratic stability. They identify key indicators of authoritarian behavior, such as the rejection of democratic rules, denial of opponents' legitimacy, tolerance of violence, and curtailment of civil liberties. The book also discusses the role of political parties in defending democracy and proposes solutions to counteract democratic backsliding, including elite-level cooperation, addressing social inequalities, and restoring democratic norms[2][4][5].
As the crisis of democratic capitalism sweeps the globe, The Great Retreat: How Political Parties Should Behave and Why They Don't (Oxford University Press, 2025) makes the controversial argument that what democracies require most are stronger political parties that serve as intermediaries between citizens and governments.
Once a centralizing force of the democratic process, political parties have eroded over the past fifty years. Parties now rank among the most unpopular institutions in society--less trusted than business, the police, and the media. Identification with parties has plummeted, and even those who are loyal to a party report feeling that parties care more about special interests than about regular citizens. What does a "good" political party look like? Why do we urgently need them? And how do we get them?
The Great Retreat explores the development of political parties as democracy expanded across the West in the nineteenth century. It focuses in particular on mass parties, and the ways they served as intermediaries that fostered ties between citizens and governments. While parties have become professionalized and nationalized, they have lost the robust organizational density that made them effective representatives. After the Cold War, a neoliberal economic consensus, changes to campaign finance, and shifting party priorities weakened the party systems of Western democracies. As Didi Kuo argues, this erosion of political parties has contributed to the recent crisis of democratic capitalism, as weak parties have ceded governance to the private sector.
For democracy to adapt to a new era of global capitalism, Kuo makes the case that we need strong intermediaries like mass parties--socially embedded institutions with deep connections to communities and citizens. Parties are essential to long-term democratic stability and economic growth, while the breakdown of party systems, on the other hand, has historically led to democratic collapse. As trust in political parties has plummeted, The Great Retreat provides a powerful defense of political parties--for without parties, democratic representation is impossible.
Didi Kuo is Center Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University.
Caleb Zakarin is editor of the New Books Network.
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