Why are we so divided?
Why do Americans living in the city and the country experience politics as a battle between “us” and “them”?
In Rural Versus Urban: The Growing Divide That Threatens Democracy, co-authors Suzanne Mettler and Trevor Brown write that America’s deep political division now pervades every state in our country.
Suzanne will take the City Opera House stage to talk about how America got here. Until about thirty years ago, both political parties attracted support from rural and urban voters. Yet the tide changed after NAFTA was passed, removing nearly all trade barriers with Mexico and Canada. The economic shift hit rural areas hard as manufacturing jobs left the country and Big Ag edged out small farmers. Struggling rural residents began to view Democrats as wealthy elites out of touch with their needs. Politically active evangelical churches, antiabortion organizations, and gun groups helped deepen the divide, encouraging many of these rural residents to staunchly support the GOP.
Now, regional one-party rule in rural America has given Republicans a systematic edge for gaining control of the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, the presidency, and even the Supreme Court, pushing democracy to the brink. Mettler and Brown argue that the divide can be repaired—but only if the Democrats build organizations in rural communities and create awareness of the solutions they are offering.
Suzanne Mettler is a senior professor at Cornell University. In addition to co-authoring Rural Versus Urban, she wrote six award-winning books about politics with a focus on democracy, civic engagement, inequality, social welfare, and aid for college students. She has also published pieces in the New York Times, the L.A. Times, Foreign Affairs, and Salon. Suzanne is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the recipient of a Guggenheim Award. The election of Trump heightened Suzanne’s concerns about the future of American democracy. In 2017, she founded the American Democracy Collaborative, a group of political scientists who are evaluating the health of democracy in America. She grew up in rural upstate New York, in dairy farming country. She and her husband are avid cyclists and have two adult daughters.
Trevor E. Brown is a postdoctoral fellow in moral and political economy, focusing on American politics, public policy, and inequality. He earned his doctorate from Cornell University and will join the University of Oregon’s Department of Political Science as an assistant professor this coming fall.
Doors open at 1:30 p.m. with live music, and the conversation begins at 2 p.m. This event includes a Q&A session and an author signing immediately following in the lobby.
Need help getting to the City Opera House? Directions can be found here.
Ticket Information
Additional City Opera House transaction fees are applied at checkout. Service fees may be waived if tickets are purchased over the phone or in-person at the City Opera House.
Tier One indicates premium seating options with the best views, available on the main floor closest to the stage along with premium sections of the balcony.
Tier Two indicates standard seating options, available on the main floor and most of the balcony.
Tier One: $27
Tier Two: $17
Admits one person to the live event. Tickets do not include a book. Books may be purchased via the “Purchase Book” button above.
Virtual Tickets
Can’t make it to City Opera House? Enjoy the event live or on-demand from home!
Each Virtual Ticket includes access to a private YouTube link beginning at 1:50 p.m. Virtual attendees may participate in the Q&A via moderated chat. You must be logged into YouTube via a Google account to chat, or email questions to [email protected].
You may also purchase the featured book for an additional fee. Horizon Books will ship anywhere in the continental U.S., with shipping costs applied at checkout. Signed books are not available for virtual ticket holders.
Student/Educator Tickets: $12
With a valid school ID. Admits one person to the live event. Book not included.
Content Rating
Unless otherwise noted, NWS events are designed for adult audiences and may not be suitable for children.
Group Tickets
For discounted rates on groups of 20 or more, please contact: [email protected]
