With America’s political polarization constantly in focus, pundits and politicians have long debated its root causes. Many have argued that social and cultural differences are to blame, but a new book, U.S. Innovation Inequality and Trumpism: The Political Economy of Technology Deserts in a Knowledge Economy, by a University of Washington researcher argues that the true division correlates to economic and technological disparities.
In the book, UW professor Victor Menaldo teamed with recent UW doctoral graduate Nicolas Wittstock to explore how America’s divides between its high-tech hubs, such as Silicon Valley, and less innovative regions, may have led to the rightwing populist movement. The authors propose that “innovation inequality” was crucial towards Donald Trump’s rhetoric in 2016, as voters in regions that felt left behind by the modern knowledge economy gravitated towards Trump.
The authors then look at the 2020 election, which saw a shifting political landscape, with big tech taking footholds in traditionally blue-collar areas in states such as Georgia and Arizona, which flipped to Joe Biden. This shift reinforces the notion that “innovation inequality” plays a crucial role in shaping American politics.