53 pages • 1 hour read
Tom Schaller, Paul WaldmanWhite Rural Rage: The Threat to American Democracy
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2024A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 4-5Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 4 Summary: “Cultures at War”
Chapter 4 explores the persistent valorization and romanticization of rural America within US politics and culture. This chapter traces the historical and contemporary use of rural imagery and values by politicians to connect with voters, highlighting a deep-seated reverence for rural life as the embodiment of American virtue.
The chapter begins with Thomas Jefferson’s praise for farmers in the 18th century, which set a precedent for the idealization of rural citizens. This ideal persists today, with politicians like Senator Josh Hawley and former President George W. Bush adopting rural personas to appeal to voters. This phenomenon, where rurality is synonymous with authenticity, sincerity, and trustworthiness, extends beyond individuals to encompass a broader set of values associated with rural life, such as independence, self-reliance, hard work, patriotism, and devoutness.
The authors underscore the symbolic power of rural America in shaping political identities. Politicians frequently evoke “small-town values” as a campaign strategy, as seen with North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, who emphasized these values despite his urban wealth. The cultural and political significance of rural America is not just rooted in nostalgia but also in a tangible sense of identity and virtue.
Despite the differences among various rural communities, there is a shared rural ethos that influences political behavior and beliefs. Urban life often contrasts this ethos, with urban living portrayed as less authentic and more disconnected from traditional American values. This dichotomy fosters a deep-seated resentment among rural Americans toward perceived urban elites, fueling a culture war that is as much about identity as it is about politics.
The chapter further discusses the role of pickup trucks as a potent symbol of rural life and masculinity. These vehicles, originally designed for practical use on farms, have become cultural icons representing strength, ruggedness, and self-reliance. The marketing of pickup trucks capitalizes on these values, appealing not only to rural consumers but also to urban and suburban buyers seeking to align themselves with the rural ideal.
Political figures like JD Vance, who transitioned from critiquing his rural background in Hillbilly Elegy to embracing a populist, Trump-aligned stance, exemplify the strategic use of rural identity in contemporary politics. Vance’s campaign, marked by inflammatory rhetoric against perceived liberal threats, underscores the intensity of the culture war in rural areas.
The authors conclude the chapter by examining the deep-seated belief in the moral superiority of rural life, perpetuated by both conservative and mainstream media. This belief underpins the political and cultural dynamics that privilege rural Americans, granting them a unique status and influence in American society.
Chapter 5 Summary: “The Unlikely King of Rural America”
The authors examine the phenomenon of rural Americans’ fervent support for Donald Trump, despite his background and persona being seemingly at odds with their values. This chapter examines how Trump’s appeal to rural voters is deeply rooted in cultural, social, and emotional connections rather than practical similarities or policy proposals.
The authors open with vivid anecdotes of rural Trump supporters, like Wally Maslowsky and Doug Koehn, who express their devotion through massive displays of Trump’s name on their properties. These authors note that these grand gestures symbolize the emotional and cultural connection that rural Americans feel toward Trump, transcending traditional political norms and highlighting the unique nature of his support base.
The chapter traces the historical backdrop of rural reverence, noting how rural life has long been idealized in American culture. This reverence is not new; politicians throughout history have manipulated it to garner support. However, the authors show that Trump’s approach differs significantly from traditional rural pandering. Unlike previous candidates who tried to adopt rural personas, Trump embraced his urban, elite background and instead connected with rural voters on a visceral level, tapping into their feelings of disenfranchisement and resentment.
The authors highlight how Trump’s campaign strategy defied conventional political wisdom. Instead of trying to fit into the rural mold, Trump amplified his distinctiveness, focusing on showmanship and a bold, unapologetic persona. His helicopter entrance at the Iowa State Fair in 2015 is a prime example, where he attracted attention not by blending in but by standing out. This approach resonated with rural voters who saw Trump as a champion for their frustrations and anger toward the perceived elite and liberal urbanites.
The chapter further explores the symbolic power of the Trump brand in rural America. Trump signs and flags became more than political endorsements; they transformed into cultural symbols representing defiance, loyalty, and a rejection of the establishment. This symbolism extended beyond mere political allegiance, embedding itself in the rural identity and social fabric.
Trump’s rhetoric, which acknowledged their grievances and validated their anger, struck a chord with voters who felt overlooked by traditional politicians. He told them that their feelings of being wronged were justified and that their rage was a legitimate response. The authors show that this message of empowerment through anger and defiance became a central theme in his appeal to rural America.
The chapter also examines the broader implications of Trump’s influence on rural politics. His success in capturing the rural vote reshaped the Republican Party, teaching other politicians the power of appealing to rural resentment and cultural identity. Elise Stefanik’s transformation from a moderate Republican to a staunch Trump supporter exemplifies this shift. Her evolution highlights how aligning with Trump’s rhetoric and style can elevate political careers, even for those without traditional rural backgrounds.
The authors conclude by reflecting on the enduring impact of Trump’s presidency on rural America. Regardless of his future political fortunes, Trump has fundamentally altered the political landscape, leaving a lasting mark on rural voters and the Republican Party. The authors underscore that his ability to tap into deep-seated emotions and cultural divides has redefined what it means to appeal to rural Americans, setting a new standard for political engagement in these communities.
Chapters 4-5 Analysis
Chapters 4 and 5 discuss the cultural and emotional underpinnings of rural America’s political behavior, highlighting the themes of The Disenfranchisement of Rural White Voters and The Impact of Conservative Media on Political Beliefs. These chapters provide an analysis of how the political arena has romanticized and manipulated rural identity, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of Donald Trump’s appeal to rural voters.
In Chapter 4, Schaller and Waldman explore the historical and contemporary valorization of rural America within US politics and culture, beginning with Thomas Jefferson’s praise for farmers that established a historical precedent for the idealization of rural life. This sets the stage for a detailed examination of how modern politicians adopt rural personas to connect with voters. For instance, despite Josh Hawley’s elite background, he presents himself with rural authenticity: “Sen. Josh Hawley, son of a banker and a graduate of prep school and then Stanford and Yale Law, looks into the camera and says: ‘We’ve got two perfect little boys. Just ask their muhmuh’” (96). Similarly, the authors mention Bush’s purchase of a ranch and staged activities like brush clearing to highlight the performative nature of rural symbolism in politics. To appeal to rural voters, candidates deliberately alter their public persona to resonate with the values and experiences of this demographic. By adopting a more relatable, rural image and distancing themselves from elite or urban associations, Schaller and Waldman emphasize how these political candidates use The Disenfranchisement of Rural White Voters to their advantage.
By employing examples of Bush and Hawley, the authors further juxtapose the symbolic power of rural imagery with the practical realities of rural life, illustrating a deep-seated reverence for rural values that transcends political generations. The authors also discuss the role of symbols like pickup trucks, which have evolved from practical farm tools to cultural icons representing strength and self-reliance.
Chapter 5 shifts focus to the specific phenomenon of Donald Trump’s support among rural voters. The chapter opens with vivid anecdotes of rural Trump supporters, providing a human face to the broader cultural and emotional connections that drive their devotion. For example, the grand gestures of supporters like Wally Maslowsky, who mowed “TRUMP” into his lawn in 176-foot-tall letters, and Doug Koehn, who carved the name into his fields in 500-foot-high letters, illustrate the intense personal and emotional investment in Trump’s candidacy. Unlike previous candidates, Trump did not try to adopt a rural persona but instead embraced his distinctiveness, appealing to rural voters on a visceral level and tapping into The Disenfranchisement of Rural White Voters in a novel way. For example, the authors mention his dramatic entrance at the Iowa State Fair in a helicopter, with his name emblazoned on the side, which sent a clear message of flamboyant self-promotion rather than a claim of shared rural experience.
Schaller and Waldman analyze how Trump’s campaign strategy, showmanship, and bold persona resonated with rural voters who felt disenfranchised and resentful toward urban elites. The Trump flag, more than just a political symbol, became an expression of a worldview and personal identification with Trump. The authors note, “The Trump flag represents far more than a statement of intention to vote for a candidate; it’s an expression of a worldview and a personal identification with the man. It’s not just belligerent; it’s aggrieved: a way of saying: The world has done us wrong, and this is our response” (152). This quote underscores the deep emotional and cultural connection that rural voters had and continue to have with Trump, illustrating how his message of grievance and defiance resonates with them on a personal level. It highlights the symbolic power of the Trump flag as a unifying emblem of rural discontent and identity, further emphasizing the cultural divide between rural and urban America. While not yet discussing political violence in these chapters, Schaller and Waldman’s emphasis on Maslowsky’s and Koehn’s monumental show of devotion toward Trump illustrates the extreme lengths to which his supporters express their allegiance. In this way, the authors demonstrate Trump’s cult of personality and highlight how quickly fervent loyalty can grow—foreshadowing how the theme of The Rise of Anti-Democratic Tendencies and Political Violence will manifest more throughout the text.
Schaller and Waldman employ a critical ideological lens to dissect the sentiments and political behaviors of rural Americans. In Chapter 4, they explore how the romanticization of rural life has been used to create a cultural identity that contrasts sharply with urban life. This dichotomy fosters a deep-seated resentment among rural Americans toward urban elites, fueling a culture war that is as much about identity as it is about politics. The authors argue that this cultural valorization serves to maintain the status quo, preventing rural voters from addressing the true sources of their struggles and further cementing The Disenfranchisement of Rural White Voters. For instance, they note how rurality is synonymous with authenticity and trustworthiness, creating a potent political symbol that politicians exploit.
