Three Variables of the Unusual Volatility of the 2016 US Presidential Campaign Cycle

Three variables explain the unusual volatility of the 2016 US Presidential campaign cycle. The first of these, weakened political parties, reflects an anti-establishment skepticism of government that dates to the 1960s. The second, the rise of money in American politics, relates to the increasing use of computer technology available to candidates since the 1980s. The final variable is a disenchanted and alienated electorate that has come to believe that government is not useful to people in their ordinary lives; many of these voters as a result feel disconnected from the entire political process.