ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book investigates the "gapology" of American politics. Gapology, simply put, is the study of political "gaps", or divides. The book examines the political beliefs and behavior of different demographic groups in the United States. It shows that the gaps in American political behavior are not only intrinsically fascinating but also informative. The book demonstrates that economic issues play a crucial role in delineating the gaps of American politics. It is commonly believed, for example, that the primary reason that the gender gap has emerged with women disproportionately supporting Democratic candidates is due to the prominence of social issues such as abortion. The book indicates that on a number of aspects of political preferences there are important differences—gaps—between groups. It also demonstrates the importance of each gap in regard to vote choice and public policy preferences.
