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The study of political parties has usually focused on the organizations themselves and their roles in government and politics. This text shifts that focus to the individuals who make up political parties - the politician as member of a political party, the politician as part of the political process, and the politician in relation to his or her constituents. With 13 contributed essays, this volume examines how politicians as party members motivate voters, how they conduct campaigns and how they behave in government. With interests ranging from public opinion research to democratic theory, the contributors bring an array of theories and data to bear on age-old problems. They seek to offer a new way to think about party coalitions, question the benefits of tow-party competition and focus on politics as a vocation. By putting the politician centrestage and examining issues from a variety of viewpoints, the volume advances the argument that, to understand party politics, one must understand the motives and actions of politicians themselves.