Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right is a book written by Arlie Russell Hochschild, a sociologist and professor emerita at the University of California, Berkeley. The book explores the lives of Tea Party supporters in Louisiana and their beliefs, values, and motivations. Hochschild spent five years researching and interviewing these individuals, seeking to understand why they hold the political views they do and how those views impact their lives.
Chapter Summaries
Chapter 1: The Outsider
In the first chapter, Hochschild introduces us to Mike, a man who lives in the small town of Abbeville, Louisiana. Mike is a member of the Tea Party and is deeply passionate about his conservative beliefs. Hochschild describes Mike as feeling like an outsider in his own community, as he does not fit in with the more liberal-leaning residents of the area. Mike’s experiences growing up in a poor family and his struggles with addiction have shaped his worldview and his belief that the government is the source of many of the problems facing Americans.
Chapter 2: The Deep Story
In this chapter, Hochschild delves into the “deep story” of the Tea Party supporters she interviewed. The deep story is a concept in narrative psychology that refers to the underlying narrative that shapes a person’s beliefs and values. For the Tea Party supporters in Louisiana, the deep story is one of loss and resentment. They feel that they have been left behind by the changing world around them and that the government has failed to address their needs and concerns.
Chapter 3: The Betrayal
In this chapter, Hochschild explores the idea of betrayal among the Tea Party supporters she interviewed. They feel betrayed by the government, which they see as ineffective and corrupt, and by the mainstream media, which they believe is biased against their conservative beliefs. They also feel betrayed by the more liberal-leaning residents of their community, who they see as not understanding or caring about their struggles.
Chapter 4: The Fear
In this chapter, Hochschild examines the fears of the Tea Party supporters she interviewed. They fear that their way of life is disappearing, that their communities are being overrun by outsiders, and that their freedoms are being threatened by government overreach. They also fear that the government will take away their guns and their right to bear arms, which they see as a fundamental part of their identity.
Chapter 5: The Pain
In this chapter, Hochschild delves into the personal pain and struggles of the Tea Party supporters she interviewed. Many of them come from working-class backgrounds and have faced economic hardship and personal struggles. They feel that the government has failed to address their needs and that the more liberal-leaning residents of their community do not understand their struggles.
Chapter 6: The Hope
In the final chapter, Hochschild explores the hope and optimism of the Tea Party supporters she interviewed. Despite their struggles and their fears, they believe in the power of individualism and the free market to create a better future for themselves and their families. They also believe in the power of their own community to solve problems and create change.
Conclusion
Overall, Strangers in Their Own Land is a thought-provoking and insightful exploration of the beliefs and values of Tea Party supporters in Louisiana. Through her interviews and research, Hochschild provides a nuanced and compassionate portrait of these individuals and their experiences. While some readers may not agree with the political views of the people she profiles, the book is a valuable reminder of the importance of understanding and empathizing with those who hold different beliefs and values.
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