Blue and Red: A Divided America

Relying on governmental data, national polling organizations, and a combination of scholarly and media articles, Blue and Red: A Divided America identifies and examines the fundamental differences in values that Americans hold regarding issues of democracy, racial injustice, and equal economic opportunity.

The main argument of the book is that what we have been taught are American values are only aspirational and are not shared by large portions of Americans. It posits that these divisions have deep historical roots, have always been present in American polity, and are not simply a result of binary classifications such as rural versus urban, educated versus uneducated, male versus female, and low income versus high income communities.

The second edition has been updated to reflect data newly available in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and The House Committee's Report on January 6. It features over 70 tables, graphs, charts, and maps as well as the most up-to-date polls from the Pew Research Center and other reputable polling agencies. Additionally, chapters have been expanded and contain new writing on Christian nationalism, the donation divide, the status divide, the climate change divide, the January 6 insurrection, and Donald Trump's indictments.

Providing students with a highly relevant, research-based perspective, Blue and Red is an ideal resource for courses and programs in political science.