Statecraft

Why the Two Parties Operate Differently

Jan 29, 2025

Jo Freeman, a founding member of the women’s liberation movement and a political scientist, discusses the distinct organizational dynamics of the Democratic and Republican parties. She reveals why their internal conflicts play out so differently, with Democrats thriving on public disputes. Freeman highlights the transformative impact of the women's movement on the Democratic Party and questions the fading significance of convention caucuses. The conversation also explores the concept of 'trashing' within feminist circles, exposing the irony of how success can lead to negative labeling among women.

28:53

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Episode guests

Jo Freeman

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Quick takeaways

The Democratic Party's power structure emphasizes upward advocacy from constituent groups, while the Republican Party prioritizes personal connections with influential leaders.

The women's liberation movement has significantly reshaped the Democratic Party's dynamics, illustrating how the institutionalization of women’s influence evolved from participation to structured engagement.

Deep dives

Differences in Party Power Structures

The Democratic and Republican parties exhibit fundamentally different power structures that influence their internal dynamics. In the Democratic Party, power tends to flow upward from organized constituent groups that advocate for specific interests, such as racial minorities or labor interests. In contrast, the Republican Party sees power flowing downward, emphasizing personal connections to influential leaders, exemplified by the current prominence of figures like Donald Trump. This distinction is critical for understanding how individuals navigate each party, as Democrats need to demonstrate representation of a group, while Republicans often rely on their relationships with top party figures.

Intro

2min

Party Dynamics and Cultural Shifts

15min

Conflicts and Dynamics in U.S. Politics

7min

Understanding 'Trashing' in the Women's Movement

2min

Navigating the Challenges of Social Movements

3min

Today I'm talking with Jo Freeman: a founding member of the women’s liberation movement in the 1960s, a civil rights campaigner, an attendee to every Democratic party convention since 1964, and a political scientist. She’s not the most typical Statecraft guest. But her work on how the two parties work - not just what they believe, but how they operate organizationally - is incredibly insightful. In this conversation, we dig into:

* Why do the two parties fight so differently?

* What makes someone powerful in each party?

* How did the women's movement transform the Democratic Party?

* What happened to convention caucuses? Did they stop mattering?

* What does it mean when a movement starts "trashing" its own leaders?

Reading list:

Who You Know Versus Who You Represent: Feminist Influence in the Democratic and Republican Parties

The Political Culture of the Democratic and Republican Parties

Why Republican Party Leaders Matter More Than Democratic Ones (by Tanner Greer)

Trashing: The Dark Side of Sisterhood

The Tyranny of Structurelessness

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