Final answer:
Party dealignment has led to a rise in candidate-centered campaigns and created a wider ideological gap between parties. This has decreased party reliance, fostered extreme candidates, and complicated bipartisan efforts, ultimately changing the dynamic between candidates and parties.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phenomenon of party dealignment has markedly transformed the typical candidate-party dynamics. Historically, political parties played a central role in the electoral process by selecting and supporting candidates, mobilizing voters, and channeling funds into campaigns. However, since the late 20th century, we have observed an increasing divergence and polarization within both major U.S. political parties, leading to a decline in moderate representation and a rise in candidate-centered campaigns. This dealignment signifies a reduction in the influence of parties over candidates and elections.
Due to this shift, candidates have become more ideologically extreme, pulling their parties towards the poles, while the ideological gaps between Republicans and Democrats widen. This has stimulated a political environment where bipartisan compromise is challenging and where candidates often rely less on party infrastructure, instead using personal resources or media visibility to propel campaigns, as seen with Ross Perot and Donald Trump. Dealignment has also prompted a change in voter-party interactions, with more voters identifying as independents or avoiding primary participation, ultimately reshaping the function of parties in democracies.
In conclusion, party dealignment has fostered a political climate characterized by stark partisan divisions and candidate dependence on individual capacities rather than party support, which may alter electoral outcomes and party efficacy in aggregating public will.