This is a discussion on the future of the Democratic Party. It mirrors the interview I did with Harvard’s Tom Patterson on the future of the Republican Party. I follow up on that topic by switching focus to consider the Democratic Party. I talk with Dr. Tom Hollihan from the University of Southern California to consider what “traps,” if any, do Democrats face in the near to medium term (5-10 years) future.
From Dr. Hollihan’s bio:
“Thomas Hollihan is a professor of communication at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California.Dr. Hollihan is the author of several books including: Uncivil Wars: Political Campaigns in a Media Age.
He is a faculty fellow in the USC Center for Public Diplomacy and the USC Center for Communication Leadership. Hollihan has served as a consultant to many different political candidates, elected officials, business leaders, and also to the leaders of NGOs. He coaches senior U.S. Navy leaders on strategic communication and also teaches in the USC Annenberg World Bank Summer Institute. He has also consulted for the International Atomic Energy Agency of the United Nations. Hollihan makes frequent appearances in the media to discuss political issues and campaign strategies.”
Topics covered in this episode
- The difficulty of projecting the future of a political party so close to an election
- The effect of polarization on intensifying the tone of the election
- How the Democrats may or may not be losing some of their demographic advantages
Materials cited in this episode
Books and Articles
Books
TTP Articles
- Is American Liberalism Declining?
- Bitter Fruits: On Nostalgia and Limited Government
- Fear the Rhetoric of Certainty
Conversation starter
Are these issues still relevant during a realignment election?
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