The unusual process behind Iowa Caucuses holds enormous power within America’s Presidential vote

This article first appeared on The Conversation. Every four years, just around now, the otherwise innocuous American state of Iowa is the center of national and international attention as it holds the first elections to determine the country’s presidential nominees. It’s a strange and highly specific event, and for those not following U.S. politics closely, it’s…

DES MOINES, Iowa — Most people think the Iowa caucuses are just the first presidential primary in the nation — a chance for Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders to see how they’re really doing with voters. And while that’s wrong, it’s also partly true. The Iowa caucuses do involve voting and Iowa…