Book excerpt: Focusing on the relationship between location and political activity, the subdiscipline of political geography offers a unique vantage point from which to examine the development of the American political system. This comprehensive text traces the theory and practice of American politics from the colonial era to the present day. The authors highlight the key role of geography in such crucial areas as the establishment of the nation's governing principles; the formation of political parties and coalitions; electoral history; the development of America's political economy; and its role in the world economy. Serving as a springboard for research and forecasting, the book also ventures into the future to discuss possible shifts in the political geography of twenty-first-century America.