The Christian Right and George W. Bush

The strengthening of the Christian Right in the United States of America within the last three decades demonstrates the interdependence of religion and political actors. Due to the electoral system and campaign financing in the U.S., political parties have limited possibilities to recruit personnel, to participate in the legislative process or to discipline elected representatives. Due to their remarkable ability to mobilize voters and to effectively pool campaign contributions, well-organized institutions and interest groups with a large membership base have a strong voice in the political debate and the legislation. The political mobilization of the evangelical-fundamentalist Protestantism represents a new phenomenon which causes concerns about a bible-based revision of central constitutional elements. The Christian Right plays a key role in mobilizing voter potential and election support for the Republican Party in Congress. Furthermore, the Christian Right forms the base of the Bush administration in the White House. The religious-morally impact of the Christian Right over the legislative arm and the political work at the grassroot level is going to co-determine the scope for action of American presidents for the time being.

Autorentext

Caroline Strothmann studied Political Science, Law and Comparative Linguistics at the Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz (Germany). After an academic year at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques in Strasbourg (France), she completed a term as Visiting Researcher in the Department of Government at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. (USA).

Klappentext

The strengthening of the Christian Right in the United States of America within the last three decades demonstrates the interdependence of religion and political actors. Due to the electoral system and campaign financing in the U.S., political parties have limited possibilities to recruit personnel, to participate in the legislative process or to discipline elected representatives. Due to their remarkable ability to mobilize voters and to effectively pool campaign contributions, well-organized institutions and interest groups with a large membership base have a strong voice in the political debate and the legislation. The political mobilization of the evangelical-fundamentalist Protestantism represents a new phenomenon which causes concerns about a bible-based revision of central constitutional elements. The Christian Right plays a key role in mobilizing voter potential and election support for the Republican Party in Congress. Furthermore, the Christian Right forms the base of the Bush administration in the White House. The religious-morally impact of the Christian Right over the legislative arm and the political work at the grassroot level is going to co-determine the scope for action of American presidents for the time being.