A divided America, an anxious world: a turn in the history of US elections

FOR much of the post-World War II period, American presidential elections were seen as a civilised and spirited contest between representatives of the Democratic and Republican parties, the country's two major political forces.

American voters were asked to decide which of two presidential candidates would be more successful in crafting and carrying out policies that would help advance US interests at home and abroad. During those years, a certain consensus developed in Washington when it came to core national policy issues, including the econ…