“极化”的美国政治：神话还是现实？

"Polarization" of American Politics:Myth or Reality?

"政治极化",特别是两党政治的极化,是近十多年来美国政治的一个突出现象,也是美国政治学界近年来普遍关注但又颇有争议的一个问题。本文在对美国"政治极化"作历史考察的基础上,探讨了"政治极化"产生的原因及其对当今美国政治进程和公共政策制订的影响。文章认为,"持久的政党选民重组"(secular realignment)所导致的两党选民结构和选举基地的变化、两党内部意识形态同质化及其导致的选民"政党选择"(party sorting),文化、宗教和道德价值观冲突上升等,是政治极化形成的最主要原因。两党"政治极化"既是美国政党和选举政治变化的结果,反过来又对美政党和选举政治产生了深刻的影响。在"极化"的政治环境下,两党在主要政策领域的分歧增大,总统和国会围绕立法控制权和司法任命的斗争愈演愈烈,从而导致更多的立法僵局。"极化"现象对现有的关于美国政治的理论提出了挑战。

'Political polarization,' especially polarization of party politics, is an outstanding feature in American politics for more than ten years. It is also an issue of concern and controversy in the American political science circle in the past few years. Based on a historical survey of American 'political polarization,' this article discusses the cause of 'political polarization' and its impact on current American political process and public policy decision-making. The article holds that the change in electoral structure and the two parties' electoral base as a result of 'permanent secular realignment,' the congruence of ideology within the two parties leading to party sorting of the electorate and the rise of conflict of cultural, religious and moral values are the major causes of political polarization. 'Political polarization' of the two parties is the result of the change in American party and electoral politics, which in turn exerts a strong impact on American party and electoral politics. With the political environment of 'polarization,' the increase in disagreement of the two parties over major policy areas, the intensification of struggle between the president and the congress over legislative control and judicial appointment, resulting in more and more deadlocks in legislation, 'polarization' poses a challenge to current theories of American politics.