... parties don't really believe in anything at their core, and they change over time, even if you might be able to briefly describe some sort of overall philosophy right now. In reality, each party is just trying to form minimal coalitions between different philosophical/interest groups such that they can win a majority in the election...
It fits also well with multi-party European systems.
Conclusion of various (very abstract) coalitions only to obtain the majority or the minimum necessary. Ideological changes before (and after) the election, everything for the needs of the party, to have a chance and to fit well in the current electoral profile.
In my opinion, you are absolutely right, I am not familiar with the policy of the United States but what you wrote also suits me like a glove to European countries.
Let's take:
...shifts in ... traditional coalition structure:
- Most notably, the political power of unions and labor in general have been substantially weakened. Union membership is at an all-time low...
- Whereas rich people previously tended to support low taxes and nationalism, "the 1%" is increasingly adopting a mindset which is basically globalism/neoliberalism (which includes anti-
nationalism) combined with a profound lack of faith in capitalism....
- companies like Facebook have so much influence.
- Religiosity is at an all-time low...
Same in Europe, everything matches exactly: labor weakened, union members at an all-time low, reach people changing mindsets, Facebook involved in elections (Turkey, UK and EU countries), religiosity at an all-time low.
In my opinion, soon, the effects of "rainbow coalitions" will be seen in the UK, where on the wave of Brexit, they won the election, not to mention the involvement of Facebook and Cambridge Analytica, which should be much more worrying than anything else because suddenly social media platform is enough to manipulate undecided voters to change the outcome of elections.
Let's look at what will happen in UK after Brexit and what next elections will bring there?
PS
Great read!!!