Rural Voter Blues
Contrary to what you’ve heard, progressives actually can reach rural voters.
43 Article(s) by: Jared Abbott
Jared Abbott is a researcher at the Center for Working-Class Politics and a contributor to Jacobin and Catalyst: A Journal of Theory and Strategy.
An Economist’s Guide to Beating Neoliberalism
In Left Behind, economist Paul Collier tells a convincing tale of how market fundamentalism created inequality. He offers welcome solutions to global and regional disparities — but gives little attention to the kind of politics required to realize his aims.
Class Dealignment Is the Defining Political Challenge of Our Time
The evidence is overwhelming: workers are abandoning the Democrats and center-left parties around the world. Class dealignment is radically changing politics, and the Left needs a program to win the working class.
The Making and Unmaking of the American Dream
The New York Times’ David Leonhardt has written a compelling overview of the improbable rise and spectacular fall of the New Deal order. But he understates the difficulty in reviving a form of American social democracy.
Democrats Aren’t Campaigning to Win the Working Class
A new study examines the Democratic rhetorical and campaigning failures that may help Republicans entrench their position as the new party of the American working class.
Dealignment of the Faithful?
It’s tempting to see America’s declining religiosity as nothing but good news for the Democrats. The real picture is more complicated.
Can Democrats Reverse the Neoliberal Era’s Dealignment?
A new study clearly shows that Democratic candidates aren’t embracing progressive economic demands. Is it any wonder why more and more working-class people are tuning these politicians out?
Debating Class Dealignment
Class dealignment posits that Democrats have been losing working-class voters in favor of middle- and upper-class voters. Is this actually happening? And to what extent is it a problem?
Why We Need Union Halls in Every Town
Lainey Newman and Theda Skocpol’s Rust Belt Union Blues makes a compelling case that left-wing success in the rust belt depends on reviving the presence and stature of unions — and the sense of social connection they offer — in local communities.
Just How Bad Were UN Sanctions Against Iraq?
The impact of UN sanctions on Iraq has been difficult to quantify — and that’s part of the problem.
Is QAnon Destroying American Democracy?
Conspiracy theories are common and dangerous, but they probably can’t explain why Americans don’t trust the government.
A Populism of the Left Can Realign American Politics
It’s clear that the GOP is capturing new parts of the working class. It’ll take credible appeals to workers’ frustrations and economic interests to win them back.
Inflation: Friend or Foe of the Left?
Across the world, inflation doesn’t necessarily stop the Left from winning elections, but it severely limits what leftists can do once in office.
We Don’t Need Another New Progressive Organization
Everyone on the Left wants a more coherent, effective movement. But we’ll get there by devising creative new strategies for building our working-class base, not by launching yet another national progressive organization.
Rebuilding the Working-Class Base One Door at a Time
Reinvigorating class-based politics in the US depends on more than inspiring candidates like Bernie Sanders: it requires durable working-class political organization. Here’s what one group learned about organizing working people around bread-and-butter issues.
American Exceptionalism Off the Rails
Why the United States spends so much but gets so little public transit.
Left-Wing Populism Can Win in Trump-Voting Areas, Too
Progressives write off Republican-leaning counties across America to their own detriment. With working-class candidates, populist messaging, and effective organization, we can make major inroads in “Trump country” that will pay dividends for years to come.
The Coming Democratic Minority
Without a radical change in its relationship to working-class voters, the Democratic Party is hurtling toward doom.
The Left Needs More Than Low-Hanging Fruit to Win Power
To win universal social programs and pro-working-class politics in America, the Left needs to win outside of traditional Democratic strongholds. And that means having the message and organizing that can capture the attention of millions.
Have Democrats Learned Anything?
The Democrats managed to win last November’s presidential election, but what about the next one? Given the party’s dependence on white suburban voters and the threat of resurgent Trumpism, they will most likely double down on their risk-averse 2020 strategy. That will only mean inviting further working-class defections.