11-09-04
Speel's Book, Interviews, Offer Explanation for National Divide
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Dr. Robert Speel, associate professor of political science at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, was a busy man during this year's Presidential election. In addition to being an expert in electoral politics, Speel is the author of Changing Patterns of Voting in the Northern United States (Penn State Press), a book that provides an explanation for the political division in the United States today. During the campaign, he was interviewed by the Associated Press and by newspapers ranging from New London, Connecticut's The Day to the Calgary, Alberta Sun. |
"America has always been divided," said Speel. He points out that the New England states were originally settled by small religious groups who were somewhat ostracized by the predominant religion of England, while in the South, many of the original English settlers were actually second sons of British aristocrats. They brought many of their customs from England, and they used government as a mechanism to preserve traditional social order.
"That may be why today, we still see the South as the part of the country where traditional cultural values are still considered most important, while in New England people look to government to create a better society."
The south was solidly Democratic until the 1960s, when the issue of race split the nation. The Democratic party, traditionally conservative, became the party supporting civil rights legislation, thereby alienating the traditional South.
"When the northern wing of the Democratic party pushed for civil rights legislation, the white South switched to the Republicans," Speel said. "And when the South brought political values on civil rights, religion, and defense spending to the Republican party, a lot of northeastern Republican voters . were turned off."
"Ultimately, that
change has resulted in the Northeast becoming "the most Democratic
part of the country today, along with the West Coast," he said.
In "Two Americas: A Historic Divide Grows," an article in The Day for
which Speel was interviewed, reporter Kenton Robinson writes, "One of
the great mysteries for blue state Democrats is why working-class
people in the red states would vote for the party that more broadly
supports big business. Historians have an answer for that: People vote
for all sorts of reasons having nothing to do with their economic
well-being."
Some researchers trace reasons for voting back to ethnic and religious heritage and even simple geography. People who live on the East and West coasts have been exposed to waves of immigration and, of necessity, have adapted to new cultures and new ideas. Coastal residents are also more likely to travel and learn to see the world differently. On the other hand, the lives of many of those living in the South and Midwest seem more insulated, with less diversity and less travel.
"In the South and parts of the Midwest, the decision whom to vote for is often based on an instinctual feeling," Speel said. "Is this person like me? Does this person believe the same things I do? Which is not to say that people in blue states don't do the same thing, but in the South these attitudes often come from religious faith or patriotism. New Englanders tend to believe their political values come from a rational analysis of politics and political leaders."
When Robinson asked what future there was, if any, for the Democratic party, Speel was cautious.
"If the Democrats could find perhaps a Midwestern or a Western politician who is known for impeccable integrity and forthrightness in political speech, I think that could possible be a way to win back some voters," he said. "The Northeast used to win elections because its population outnumbered the South, but that's changed. The population has been moving south, and New Englanders are outnumbered now."
"Bush won nationwide by 3.5 million votes, and he won Texas by 1.7 million," Speel pointed out. Half of his entire national margin came from just that one state."
"The Republican part used to contain moderate and conservative wings, and even some liberals. The Democrats also contained a large number of southern conservatives in the past," Speel said. "Now we have one party that is mostly liberal and one that is mostly conservative, and the moderates are being forced to make a choice. It is not clear this will change in the future."
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Contact: Loretta Brandon, 814-898-6063, lzb6@psu.edu