Alternative Visions - 03/06/13

Dr. Jack Rasmus welcomes guest, Professor David Gillespie, author of the recent book, ‘Why Third Parties Matter in American Two-Party Politics: Challenges to Duopoly”, to discuss the experience of third parties in American politics. Is it true that 3rd parties can’t make it in American politics, due to the ‘winner take all’ structure built into American politics and its bias toward only two parties? What does the American historical record really say about third parties?”

David Gillespie bio: “Over his long career in political science, Dr. J. David Gillespie has served on the faculties of several U.S. colleges and universities and as a Fulbright Professor in Estonia. In 1997 he was selected as the Carnegie-CASE Professor of the Year for South Carolina. Now semi-retired, he continues to teach at The Citadel and the College of Charleston. He is the author of many articles and papers on third political parties as well as two books on the topic: Politics at the Periphery: Third Parties in Two-Party America (1993) and Challengers to Duopoly: Why Third Parties Matter in American Two-Party Politics (2012).