Asymmetric Politics - Grossman, Matt (Associate Professor of Political Science, Associate Professor of Political Science, Michigan State University) a Hopkins, David A. (Assistant Professor of Political Science, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Boston College)

The Republican Party is the vehicle of an ideological movement whereas the Democratic Party is a coalition of social groups with concrete policy concerns. Democrats prefer a more moderate party leadership that makes compromises, whereas Republicans favor a more conservative party leadership that sticks to principles.