The Politics of Resentment: Rural Consciousness in Wisconsin and the Rise of Scott Walker

Cramer, Katherine J.

ISBN 10: 022634911X / ISBN 13: 9780226349114

Published by University of Chicago Press, 2016

Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G022634911XI3N00

Synopsis:

Since the election of Scott Walker, Wisconsin has been seen as ground zero for debates about the appropriate role of government in the wake of the Great Recession. In a time of rising inequality, Walker not only survived a bitterly contested recall that brought thousands of protesters to Capitol Square, he was subsequently reelected. How could this happen? How is it that the very people who stand to benefit from strong government services not only vote against the candidates who support those services but are vehemently against the very idea of big government?
           
With The Politics of Resentment, Katherine J. Cramer uncovers an oft-overlooked piece of the puzzle: rural political consciousness and the resentment of the “liberal elite.” Rural voters are distrustful that politicians will respect the distinct values of their communities and allocate a fair share of resources. What can look like disagreements about basic political principles are therefore actually rooted in something even more fundamental: who we are as people and how closely a candidate’s social identity matches our own. Using Scott Walker and Wisconsin’s prominent and protracted debate about the appropriate role of government, Cramer illuminates the contours of rural consciousness, showing how place-based identities profoundly influence how people understand politics, regardless of whether urban politicians and their supporters really do shortchange or look down on those living in the country.

The Politics of Resentment shows that rural resentment—no less than partisanship, race, or class—plays a major role in dividing America against itself.

About the Author: Katherine J. Cramer is the Natalie C. Holton Chair of Letters & Science and the Virginia Sapiro Professor of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is the author or coauthor of several books, including The Politics of Resentment: Rural Consciousness in Wisconsin and the Rise of Scott Walker.

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Politics of Resentment: Rural ...
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Publication Date: 2016
Binding: Paperback
Condition: Good
Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket