‘The tragedy of Trump’s candidacy is that, embedded in his furious exhortations against Muslims and Mexicans and trade deals gone awry is a message that America’s white poor don’t need: that everything wrong in your life is someone else’s fault.” – Kenan Malik
JD Vance, once a critic of Trump, now serves as his ally and supporter, recognizing the need for working-class support in American politics. Vance’s upbringing in Ohio’s steel town and his journey to success provide him with a unique perspective on the struggles of the white working class.
In his book, ‘Hillbilly Elegy’, Vance criticizes the culture of blame and victimhood among white workers, emphasizing personal responsibility and self-reliance. Despite his own climb up the social ladder, Vance warns against excessive social mobility and calls for a return to traditional values and roles.
The rise of figures like Vance and the shift in the Republican party towards a pro-worker stance reflect a growing trend of “aristopopulism”, where elites guide the lower classes towards what they see as their own good through cultural and religious constraints.
However, this approach neglects the systemic constraints faced by the working class and impedes collective action through measures that weaken unions and limit social mobility. The demands of a disciplined society and a return to traditional values echo similar sentiments in right-wing populist movements globally.
As the debate around the role of culture, morality, and tradition in the lives of the working class continues, the need for a holistic understanding of their struggles, including material realities and feelings of disenfranchisement, becomes ever more urgent.