A defining facet of the political landscape since 2016 is that many economically disadvantaged areas have turned to conservative politicians. The phenomenon seems counterintuitive because traditionally conservative parties have tended to favor big business and wealthier constituents.

Research from the University of Pennsylvania attempts to understand what’s behind this trend. The researchers think it’s because people in these communities have strong social networks, like family and friends, who can help them when things go wrong, like losing a job. So, they don’t rely on government support as much.

Connected to place

Additionally, these strong social connections make people less likely to move to other places even if there are better job opportunities elsewhere. So, places with lots of close-knit communities don’t see as many people leaving when times get tough.

The result is that these areas tend to have fewer people who want the government to provide things like unemployment benefits. The researchers looked at data from American elections, trade impacts, and migration patterns to support their theory. They also did a survey that supported their ideas.

Overall, this research helps us understand why some areas in the U.S. and other similar countries have more support for right-wing populist ideas, especially in places where the economy is struggling.