More Than Red vs. Blue

Rural America is often reduced to a political talking point — red states, blue states, culture wars. But there’s a deeper story, rooted in place, community, and history. Drawing on his own research, Nicholas Jacobs, co-author of The Rural Voter: The Politics of Place and the Disuniting of America, explores what it means to understand rural life on its own terms — and why doing so matters now more than ever.

This event is hosted by the Center for Revitalizing American Institutions (RAI) as part of the People, Politics, and Places Fellowship, an initiative that seeks to authentically engage Stanford students with the experiences, challenges, and contributions of rural communities, while reaffirming higher education’s responsibility to serve all corners of the nation. Following a presentation of his research on the political and cultural dynamics shaping rural America, Professor Jacobs will be joined in conversation by Professor of Political Science and Hoover Institution Senior Fellow Jonathan Rodden. 

FEATURING

Jonathan Rodden is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and a professor of political science at Stanford University. His research focuses on the comparative political economy of institutions, fiscal decentralization, and political geography. He is the author of multiple articles and two books, including Why Cities Lose: The Deep Roots of the Urban-Rural Political Divide. Rodden also advises international organizations like the World Bank and IMF on fiscal decentralization and is currently writing on electoral districting and political geography.

Nicholas Jacobs is an expert on American politics and policymaking. He has published dozens of scholarly articles and book chapters on topics including the American presidency, school segregation, and economic inequality. His latest book, Subverting the Republic, with Sidney Milkis, will be published Spring, 2025.