First published in 1976, this classic volume of original essays constitutes a unique and comprehensive review of the approaches and assumptions that dominate the field of election studies and voting behavior. Critical reviews of theory and established research are combined with accounts of innovative and original studies of a variety of European countries, as well as in North America. Therefore this volume presents valuable comparative data and methodological insights, including statistical analyses of voting data and critical accounts of major approaches to the representation of voting and party competition. These include party identification (the socio-psychological approach); dimensional analysis (the production of party spaces based on social and political cleavages); and rational choice analysis (the interaction between voters and parties within a policy space). This edition includes a new introduction by Ian Budge and Ivor Crewe.