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 with regard to 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. Rather, the differences lie in varying perceptions of American values and how those values are translated into the realities of modern American society. Throughout the text, tables, charts, maps, pictures, and graphs provide readers with contemporary data on political opinions, racial injustice, inequality, economic growth, the ethnic composition of countries, the impacts of COVID-19 on American society, and more to illustrate the differences in values and opinions in the U.S. Providing students with a highly relevant and research-based perspective on the divisions within American society, Blue and Red is an ideal resource for courses and programs in political science.
