White conservatives behind Vance's ascent

With Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 US presidential election, JD Vance, a newcomer to conservatism who entered the political arena just two years ago, has become the vice-president of the United States. Vance, however, was well-known to the American public even before the election, thanks to his bestselling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, published in 2016, reprinted in 2018 and adapted into an eponymous Netflix film in 2020.

The book is not just a clichéd rags-to-riches story of a small-town youth overcoming adversity. Through Vance's own tumultuous upbringing, it reflects on the root causes of the struggles faced by the white working class in the impoverished communities of the Midwest and the South. At its core, the book grapples with the question: Why has the American Dream become increasingly elusive for this demographic?

Vance grew up in Middletown, Ohio, a declining industrial town, in a traditional conservative community. Middletown residents hold strong religious beliefs, family values, and have a deep sense of national identity — values that starkly contrast with the liberal, internationalist views often held by urban elites. This cultural divide has exacerbated the gap between impoverished rural areas and prosperous cities. While liberal elites advocate for welfare states, globalization and transnational cooperation as solutions, conservative rural communities argue that such policies, led by elites, have worsened their livelihoods and eroded traditional family ethics and cultural values.

In the book, Vance says that white working class people in Kentucky's Appalachian Mountains, which his grandparents left in the late 1940s, were once staunch supporters of the Democratic Party. But many began shifting to the Republican Party during the Richard Nixon era, a trend that solidified during Ronald Reagan's presidency. A key reason for the shift was the Democratic Party's promotion of affirmative action, which alienated the white working class. They felt that the Democratic government rewarded those who relied on welfare programs, while hardworking individuals earned meager incomes despite toiling daily.

Vance, in the book, identifies with rural white communities, whose adherence to traditional American values and defense of cultural identity have sparked a strong backlash in the face of a rapidly changing society. This cultural conflict is related to the evolution of US identity politics.

Originally championed by the left, identity politics emerged from the Black civil rights movement and the women's movement, later extending to the rights movements of sexual minorities (LGBTQ+). However, the fragmentation within the left, as various subgroups emphasized their unique identities to secure policy protection, undermined their unity. As a result, they couldn't adhere to a common political vision. This allowed right-wing forces to seize the political agenda.

Surprisingly, the focus of US identity politics has shifted from the left to the right. As the Democratic Party advanced left-wing identity politics, rural communities increasingly felt their culture, beliefs and way of life were being marginalized or ignored, fueling anger and resistance. This passionate, grassroots movement propelled Vance, a rural native, to the White House in 2024, giving him the political influence to defend and promote white identity culture.

Since the publication of Hillbilly Elegy in 2016, Vance's stance on Trump has undergone a dramatic change; he had turned from a vocal critic to a staunch supporter by the time he ran for the Ohio Senate as a Republican in 2021. While this shift could be seen as political opportunism given Trump's endorsement was crucial to his Senate victory, Vance's support for Trump aligns with the intersection of class politics and identity politics explored in his memoir.

In his book, Vance emphasizes the importance of self-reliance for rural Americans, urging them to change their destiny through personal efforts. But he also acknowledges that government policies can play a significant role in helping these communities meet the challenges. Under the umbrella of "Trumpism", Vance's position has evolved further. While still talking of personal responsibility, he now places greater emphasis on the role of political forces and government policies, particularly in areas like job creation, revitalizing manufacturing and strictly controlling immigration.

Vance's political transformation helped him win Trump's favor. Few things could better validate "Trumpism" than the dramatic political shift by a prominent figure. Trump recognized Vance's political potential within the Republican Party, especially the "defender-of-the-working-class" image he cultivated through Hillbilly Elegy.

By selecting Vance as his running mate, Trump aimed to consolidate his support among the white working class and conservative groups most affected by globalization and free-market policies. The Democratic Party's losses in the 2016 and 2024 presidential elections were largely due to its failure to show it represents these communities. For the hillbillies, the American Dream has become a lament — a sad song of unfulfilled promises. Vance's political rise symbolizes their hope of having a politician who understands their struggles and fights for their values.

Huo Wei'an is a professor at the School of International Relations at the University of International Business and Economics; and Wang Hejin is a doctoral candidate at the same school. The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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