Blue-Collar Conservatism

By Timothy J. Lombardo,

Book cover of Blue-Collar Conservatism: Frank Rizzo's Philadelphia and Populist Politics

Book description

The postwar United States has experienced many forms of populist politics, none more consequential than that of the blue-collar white ethnics who brought figures like Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump to the White House. Blue-Collar Conservatism traces the rise of this little-understood, easily caricatured variant of populism by presenting a…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Blue-Collar Conservatism as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

As the modern conservative movement gained ground, many working-class white, ethnic voters, especially in struggling Northern and Midwestern cities joined its ranks, even as they continued to vote for Democrats in local elections. Blue-Collar Conservatism explores how that happened by focusing on the divisive tenure of Philadelphia mayor Frank Rizzo.

Elected as a Democrat in 1971, Rizzo was the first former police commissioner to serve as Philly's mayor, and he gained election by harping on “law and order” issues and opposing civil rights reforms in schools, housing, and workplaces, harnessing white claims that such policies were unearned and unfair. In…

Want books like Blue-Collar Conservatism?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Blue-Collar Conservatism.

Browse books like Blue-Collar Conservatism

Book cover of Suburban Warriors: The Origins of the New American Right
Book cover of Invisible Hands: The Businessmen's Crusade Against the New Deal
Book cover of White Flight: Atlanta and the Making of Modern Conservatism

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,187

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in conservatism, conservatism in the USA, and Philadelphia?

Conservatism 34 books
Philadelphia 89 books