Rural environmental attitudes |
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Authors: | Mark K McBeth Richard H Foster |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Political Science, Idaho State University, 83209 Pocatello, Idaho, USA |
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Abstract: | Two frequent beliefs about rural environmental attitudes are examined conceptually and empirically: (1) the common conception
that rural environmental concerns are expressed predominantly by wealthy community newcomers; and (2) the related position
that long-time rural residents are hostile to the environmental cause.
We argue conceptually, through the use of a 2×2 community matrix, that environmental attitudes are equally likely to be expressed
by what we term “upper middle income newcomers,” “lower middle income newcomers,” “upper middle income locals,” and “lower
middle income locals.” Empirically, we find that although wealthy newcomers express the strongest environmental attitudes
in the community, their concerns represent only a small percentage of rural environmental attitudes consisting of respondents
who make less than $40,000 a year in household income are over 40 years of age, possess less than a college education, and
work in a nonprofessional occupation. This new category expresses environmental concerns at least equal to the rest of the
community on three of four measures of environmental attitudes.
The findings provide insight into the widespread and cross-sectional nature of rural environmental concern. The implication
is that environmental groups will find significant sources of political support in rural communities, provided they craft
their environmental message in a language consistent with rural attitudes and values.
Things are gettin' bad fast. Easterners and environmentalists comin' down here from the big cities are tryin' to turn our
way of life completely upside down.
A western US rancher quoted in Krakauer (1991) |
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Keywords: | Rural Western politics Attitudes Environmental policy |
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