Political scientist Richard J. Hardy wrote “The Paradoxes of Political Parties in American Constitutional Government” in 2011. Here is a link to his 27-page article. Even though it is not new, it is relevant today, especially since many individuals believe that political parties are not useful and that the U.S. would be better off if they didn’t exist. There are many books that make his points, but this article is much shorter than a book, and clear and convincing.