ABSTRACT
If anything, identification with conservatism gained strength in the disillusioning years that followed and continued as a major force, and the political and institutional forces supporting conservatism grew in size, number, and influence. Though the level of conservatism has remained more or less constant, its political correlates have evolved significantly. The emergence of the Tea Party in 2009 is a stunning symbol of contemporary conservatism. Conservatism, party identification and the vote are tightly entwined throughout the country, resulting in a realignment of Southern politics that has had a huge impact on the Republican Party. The changes that have taken place over the last half century have contributed to a conservatism that overall is well grounded in the views of its adherents in the general public as well as among segments of the elite. Conservatism is a major force in American politics, and its problems and prospects are a subject.
