Les travaux de L. Sandy Maisel explorent les complexités des partis politiques et des élections américaines, en examinant de manière critique les mécanismes et la qualité des processus électoraux. Il recherche des pistes d'amélioration au sein de ces systèmes, offrant des perspectives profondes tant aux universitaires qu'aux citoyens engagés. Son œuvre abondante, comprenant de nombreux volumes personnels et édités, est devenue une pierre angulaire de la littérature en sciences politiques. Le dévouement de Maisel aux affaires publiques et à l'engagement civique est en outre souligné par ses rôles de leadership au sein d'institutions académiques et d'organisations professionnelles.
Few Americans and even fewer citizens of other nations understand the electoral process in the United States. The third edition of this Very Short Introduction offers an up-to-date overview of American political parties and elections, providing an expert view of how the system actually works while shining a light on some of its flaws.
The book critically examines the effectiveness of various reform initiatives aimed at improving American political campaigns, which are often criticized for being negative and misleading. It evaluates efforts such as voluntary codes of conduct and tougher ethics rules, highlighting that while some individual reforms have met their goals, the overall impact on campaign discourse and conduct has been underwhelming. The analysis draws on dissatisfaction expressed by voters and observers, providing a comprehensive look at the state of U.S. House and Senate campaigns.