Definitions

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a process whereby voters are moved toward nonpartisanship thus weakening the structure of political parties

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Sides also points out that "the concept of realignment isn't in such good standing anymore," which is true, although largely because (a) not everybody has been willing to concede that the 1960s saw a realignment in electoral politics due to the reenfranchisement of African-Americans and the connected emergence of the two-party south and (b) the whole concept of "dealignment" had to arise around the same time and substantially muddy the waters.

    Signifying Nothing 2008

  • Party loyalties are now more lightly held; the long-term trend is toward party dealignment in the electorate.

    Harold L. Wilensky: 2008: Democratic Sweep or A Near Miss? 2008

  • The difference between realignment, which is dead, and dealignment, which has arrived, is that many Americans remember life under the most unpopular Republican president in a generation and compare it to life under a Democratic president with large majorities in Congress - and for them, life has not gotten better, and for some, it has gotten worse.

    Home/News 2009

  • There are 17m who did not vote in last year’s election – showing a dealignment, rather than a realignment.

    Who will fill the UKIP-shaped hole? 2006

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