Presidential election campaign in the United States in 1980: fea¬tures and re-sults
- DOI
- 10.5922/vestnikhum-2025-2-6
- Pages
- 74—87
Abstract
The article is devoted to the analysis of the 1980 U. S. presidential election campaign. Special attention is given to the historical conditions that influenced the election outcome, against which the partisan political struggle unfolded. Each U. S. presidential campaign is characterized by its unique features and unpredictability. The final result is not always possible to determine, as numerous factors influence both the voters and the decision of the Electoral College. However, based on a comprehensive analysis of the domestic and foreign policy priorities of various electoral groups, an overall assessment of historical conditions, and a comparison of the candidates’ views and platforms, grounds emerge to identify the likely winner. The intense partisan political struggle during the 1980 presidential campaign reflected a deep division within the country and was largely connected to shifts in American voter sentiment. There is a need for a deeper and more objective analysis of that period to understand the processes occurring within American society that led to the defeat of Democrat Jimmy Carter, secured the victory of the far-right Republican Ronald Reagan, and strengthened the ideology of neoconservatism in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Considering advancements in historical and political sciences and employing historical-comparative and historical-genetic methods, this analysis is undertaken in the present study.