Trump’s Success — The Role of Deteriorating Communities
Many Americans were initially surprised and skeptical when business mogul Donald Trump announced his decision to run for president. Despite all the controversy and criticism, however, it is clear that his campaign was successful enough to carry him this far. Clinching his spot as the GOP nominee is probably not an outcome that most of us saw coming. Many have wondered how exactly he was able to get to this point and what factors may have been at play. In an article entitled “How the Collapse of American Community Has Fed Donald Trump” in The Federalist, John Daniel Davidson recently wrote about a theory that the deterioration of communities has greatly contributed to the rise of Donald Trump. He believes that American communities have become so eroded that individuals have begun to displace their trust from conventional community-based connections in favor of Trump’s empty promises.
Communities have been longstanding sources of social ties to the average American. They provided individuals with support and opportunities to form connections to others. The formation connections between families within a community through common gatherings used to be a common occurrence that solidified bonds created by institutions such as “churches, unions, and volunteer associations.” These communal events gave rise to the expansion of social networks and creation of even more strong and weak ties among community members. There is even evidence of strong communities even improving health among certain groups of residents that were especially close-knit. Today we are seeing a widespread weakening of social ties and the strength of institutions continues to dwindle. This is resulting in declining involvement and solidarity, and Americans have fewer and fewer places to turn to for support. While welfare can offer certain Americans with assistance, it does not provide the same emotional support that a community can provide. Rather, it can produce the opposite effect and result in distrust and resentment for the government and other social institutions.
Sociologists have charted the recent decline in “social capital” or connectedness in American society that is often the result of increased isolation and coincides with substance abuse. While certain classes of Americans are more vulnerable to this and are exhibiting these characteristics, the collapse of communities has been a national phenomena that has adverse effects on all of society. The resulting environment has made it easier for Donald Trump to perpetuate his campaign by targeting these communities and offering them empty promises. During the primaries, it was found that Trump supporters had low social connectedness and were more “likely to live in places marked by a fraying social fabric.” By seeking out communities in despair and preying on their lack of connectedness, Trump has been able to get communities to place their trust in him over other conventional outlets that have previously failed them. Residents of vulnerable communities are desperately looking for ways to lift themselves up, and Donald Trump has capitalized on their struggles and fears by offering unrealistic solutions to problems that our government has little ability to execute. However, the lack of social ties as a result of eroded communities has left many vulnerable voters desperate for change.
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How The Collapse Of American Community Has Fed Donald Trump