In the typical liberal narrative, President Donald Trump is seen as responsible for bringing out America’s more primitive, prejudiced side, pushing both the Republican Party and the country as a whole towards the right. Conversely, conservatives argue that it was actually the left that became more extreme during the 2010s, adopting radical views on race and gender that made a moderate stance appear conservative.
However, there is a third possibility: that both liberals and conservatives moved leftward on issues of race and sexual orientation throughout the decade. While the fervor of the so-called Great Awokening has subsided since Joe Biden took office, Republicans may have quietly continued to shift left on racial issues.
It’s important to clarify that this discussion pertains to public opinion, not public officials or policies. While overt bigots may have become more vocal in the mid-2010s and gained influence in certain circles, it’s crucial to distinguish between being loud and being representative. Research by political scientists Daniel Hopkins and Samantha Washington showed that from 2007 to 2018, stereotypes against black and Hispanic individuals decreased among both white Democrats and white Republicans. The drop was more significant among Democrats, widening the gap between the two groups even though they were both, on average, moving in the same direction.
Similarly, political scientist Thomas Wood’s analysis in 2017 found a correlation between Americans’ presidential votes and their scores on measures of “symbolic racism” or “racial resentment.” While these scales are controversial, they provide insight into individuals’ attitudes towards race. Wood’s findings indicated that voters who scored higher on the scale were more likely to support the Republican Party. However, it’s worth noting that even within the Republican Party, there was a trend towards becoming more racially liberal.
Despite the rise of explicitly racist and extremist elements within the right, such as those who espouse antisemitic views, these fringe groups do not represent the mainstream. In fact, during the 2020 election, associating Trump with such rhetoric made him less popular, even among white Republicans.
Overall, while most Republicans still tend to favor individual explanations for racial disparities, there is diversity of opinion within the party. Surveys have shown varying levels of support for issues like race and policing among Republicans, indicating a nuanced perspective within the party.
Furthermore, the Trump era witnessed increasing tolerance for LGBTQ individuals among rank-and-file Republicans, with support for same-sex marriage reaching majority levels. On racial issues, there hasn’t been a regression among Republicans, with some evidence suggesting a slight trend towards more liberal views.
In conclusion, the political landscape is complex, and conventional narratives may overlook the nuanced shifts in public opinion that have occurred in recent years. Democrats have historically received a majority of the nonwhite vote, but their share has been decreasing, including among African Americans. This shift could be temporary, but there are signs that Hispanics, in particular, are becoming more open to voting Republican. This trend may resemble the movement of “white ethnic” voters towards the GOP in the 1960s and ’70s.
Cultural configurations in the ongoing culture war are not fixed. Over time, once-contentious issues like same-sex unions have faded, and interracial marriage is now widely accepted. New alliances can form to combat old conflicts, such as when conservative Catholics, Protestants, and Mormons united against liberal sexual norms. The sides in cultural battles can also change dramatically. Expect the unexpected in the ever-evolving landscape of cultural politics.
Source link
