If we’re going to overcome the empathy wall between liberals and conservatives, we need to first explore what appears to be an inexplicable phenomenon of American politics: that the most conservative, heavily Republican states in the country are enduring immense suffering-often as a result of the anti-government, anti-tax, pro-business policies favored by the politicians who represent them.Īcross the conservative South, states and counties lag behind the rest of the country across nearly every measurement of human development-to the great frustration and puzzlement of many on the left. In Arlie Hochschild’s Strangers in Their Own Land, she discusses the conservative paradox. The empathy wall causes us to feel hostile and dismissive toward those with whom we disagree politically, making it nearly impossible to find common ground and work toward solutions to our society’s pressing problems.īy breaking down this empathy wall, we can come to truly inhabit the emotional world of the right, giving us insight into why these voters believe what they believe-and why those beliefs might make sense given these voters’ experiences. They are also separated by an empathy wall-a barrier that prevents them from achieving a deep understanding of the other side. People on the opposite sides of the political divide are not just separated by political beliefs. In Arlie Hochschild’s Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right, sociologist Arlie Hochschild seeks to understand the social, cultural, and emotional forces driving right-wing politics, in an effort to move past the partisan divide and approach American politics from a position of empathy for those on the right. Arlie Hochschild: Strangers in Their Own Land Read more about Arlie Hochschild, Strangers in Their Own Land, and conservative beliefs.
She examines conservative policies and why people continue to vote against their own interests.
What is the Arlie Hochschild Strangers in Their Own Land book about? What ideas does the book present about conservative voters?Īrlie Hochschild’s Strangers in Their Own Land seeks to tackle the conservative paradox and how we can overcome the empathy wall to build a better country. Like this article? Sign up for a free trial here. Shortform has the world's best summaries and analyses of books you should be reading. This article is an excerpt from the Shortform book guide to "Strangers In Their Own Land" by Arlie Russell Hochschild.
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