Godless Democrats And Pious Republicans ?

Cambridge Studies in Social Theory, Religion, and Politics
"This thoughtful and empirically detailed study of religion and party activism
takes us miles beyond simplistic commentaries about godly Republicans and godless Democrats." - Morris P. Fiorina, Stanford University "Ryan Claassen's Godless Democrats and Pious Republicans? makes a major
contribution to increasing our understanding of how religious divisions impact American party politics specifically and American society more generally. Rejecting oversimplified notions of party capture and mobilization, Claassen provides a nuanced and comprehensive account of how religion and politics have interacted during the last half century. It will force scholars to reconsider conventional thinking on this important topic."
- Edward G. Carmines, Indiana University
"By exploring the social roots of secularization in the American electorate, Claassen provides fresh and original insights into the role and origins of religious divides in U.S. party politics. This account deserves to be read by scholars of contemporary American elections and voting behavior, parties, and religion, while the broader lessons also shed light on the connections between religiosity and party politics elsewhere in the world." -Pippa Norris, Harvard University and Sydney University
RYAN L. CLAASSEN is Associate Professor of Political Science at Kent State University. His research investigates political engagement - especially the role of engagement shaping the capacity of individuals and groups of individuals in the American public to effectively contribute to public opinion and com pete democratically. His work has appeared in American Politics Research, the Journal of Politics, Political Behavior, Political Research Quarterly, and Public Opinion Quarterly.
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS