This paper is supposed to shed light on other ongoing issues of said region which are intertwined with the issues of economic distress and poverty.
Donald Trump being one of the finalists of the primaries and coming into office as the 45th president of the United States on the 20th January 2017 was a surprising outcome of the US presidential election. Although Clinton won the national popular 48% of the vote, Trump managed to win most key battleground states, and therefore the electoral college vote with 306 electoral votes. 95% of all Appalachian counties voted for Trump in the election. As it is assumed that the region played an important role in Trump’ success, many questioned his supporter’s motives trying to ascribe it to one single issue. Instead, the author assumes that economic distress and poverty are two of the leading causes that favoured Trumps success.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Main Part
1. Trump’s Voter Base: Portraying Trump’s voters
2. Causes and current issues that favoured Trump’s success in Appalachia
2.1 Definition of Appalachia: A region facing economic distress and poverty
2.2 Causes of the current situation
2.3 Consequences of economic distress and poverty, and Trump’s role
Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Topics
This paper examines the underlying socioeconomic factors that contributed to Donald Trump’s significant electoral success in the Appalachian region. It focuses on the correlation between long-standing economic distress, persistent poverty, and the political sentiment of the local voter base.
- Analysis of Trump’s voter demographic profiles.
- Defining the Appalachian region through economic and cultural lenses.
- Investigating the decline of the coal industry and its impact on regional employment.
- Exploring the intersection of the opioid crisis, mortality rates, and political alignment.
- Evaluating the role of populism and the perceived elitism of opposing political candidates.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Definition of Appalachia: A region facing economic distress and poverty
According to the Appalachian Regional Comission (ARC), Appalachia stretches from the southern tier of New York to the northern parts of the southern states including parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. (Figure 3)
However, Wilkey questions the ARC’s geographic definition of Appalachia, arguing that “the map includes some parts of the deep South that are most assuredly not Appalachia.” (Wilkey “What”). Moreover, he concludes that when considering the driving factors behind the map, the ARC’s definition was not a solid representation of what Appalachia really was (“What”). Although for Wilkey there exists no universal definition of Appalachia, he approaches other ways of defining Appalachia namely by culture, and economy (“What”).
Wilkey, besides considering geography an important way to define Appalachia, also considers Appalachia a culture. However, defining Appalachia by culture wasn’t easy either, because culture wasn’t uniform in the whole region. He argues that the assumption that Appalachia identifies with mainstream southern culture isn’t correct, as, even though some parts of Appalachia are both southern and in the South, not all Appalachia fits southern culture. Appalachia couldn’t be defined by race either, because the resident’s ancestry can be traced back not only to one race but to various. (“What”)
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides the context of the 2016 US presidential election and posits that economic distress and poverty are primary factors explaining Trump's success in Appalachia.
1. Trump’s Voter Base: Portraying Trump’s voters: Examines demographic data, highlighting that Trump's support was strongest among white, non-college-educated voters and older age groups.
2. Causes and current issues that favoured Trump’s success in Appalachia: Analyzes the structural and historical issues within the region that shaped the political landscape leading up to the election.
2.1 Definition of Appalachia: A region facing economic distress and poverty: Explores the multifaceted nature of the region, noting that geography alone fails to capture the economic and cultural realities of Appalachia.
2.2 Causes of the current situation: Investigates the decline of the coal industry driven by technological shifts and market forces, and discusses theories regarding persistent rural poverty.
2.3 Consequences of economic distress and poverty, and Trump’s role: Connects economic decline to the opioid crisis, the role of political populism, and the region's historical relationship with political figures.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, arguing that Trump’s appeal stems from a perceived sense of being heard and a promise of economic renewal in a region feeling left behind by the political establishment.
Keywords
Appalachia, Donald Trump, Coal Industry, Economic Distress, Poverty, Voter Base, Opioid Crisis, Populism, Political Success, Rural Sociology, Labor Market, Mortality Rates, Industrial Decline, US Presidential Election, Socioeconomic Factors
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper explores the reasons behind Donald Trump's electoral victory in the Appalachian region, specifically focusing on how economic hardship and poverty influenced voter behavior.
What are the central themes discussed?
Central themes include the decline of the coal industry, the persistence of rural poverty, the impact of the opioid epidemic, and the significance of populist rhetoric in reaching disadvantaged demographics.
What is the primary research question?
The research aims to understand why Appalachians strongly supported Donald Trump and whether this support can be attributed to specific socioeconomic conditions such as economic distress and poverty.
Which research methodology is employed?
The author utilizes a qualitative analytical approach, synthesizing existing literature, demographic data, public opinion surveys, and historical context to evaluate the complex relationship between regional issues and political outcomes.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers the portrait of Trump’s voter base, definitions of the Appalachian region, causes of local economic decline, the social consequences of poverty, and historical political patterns in the area.
Which keywords define the scope of this work?
Key terms include Appalachia, economic distress, poverty, Trump, voter base, coal industry, and populism.
How does the author define the "distillation of poverty"?
The author refers to a process where the financially stable and upwardly mobile residents leave a region due to job losses, leaving behind a population that is increasingly poor, thereby concentrating poverty in specific geographic areas.
What role does the opioid crisis play in the analysis?
The opioid crisis is framed as a consequence of economic distress, with the author highlighting a correlation between high mortality rates from "deaths of despair" and strong support for Donald Trump in those specific counties.
How does the paper address the rejection of other political candidates?
The author argues that candidates like Hillary Clinton were rejected because their policies were perceived as an existential threat to the region's vital interests, specifically the coal industry.
Does the author believe Trump's supporters are simply uninformed?
No, the author explicitly warns against dismissing supporters as "fools led by knaves," arguing instead that their political choices are a response to genuine desperation and the feeling of being overlooked by the political elite.
- Quote paper
- Michelle Knappitsch Pascual (Author), 2020, Economic Distress and Poverty. Two Leading Causes Favouring Trumps Success in Appalachia, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/934216
