People and Places Left Behind: Work, Culture and Politics in the Rural United States

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title

The Journal of Peasant Studies

Publication Date

1-10-2018

Publisher

Routledge

Volume

45

Issue

1

First Page

59

Last Page

79

Abstract

Using interview and survey data, we argue there are three types of places in the rural United States, and that their social and economic conditions help us understand emerging political trends, including the rural support for Donald Trump. More rural votes were cast for the Republican presidential candidate in 2016 than in other recent elections, yet shifts to Republican votes were greatest in places undergoing the most significant economic transitions. Work in rural communities has been a source of pride and cultural identity for people as well as places, but many feel the new economy is not working for them.

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