Revisiting Southern Identity

Authors

Chris Cooper, Western Carolina UniversithyFollow
Scott H. Huffmon, Winthrop University
H. Gibbs Knotts, Coastal Carolina University
Seth C. McKee, Oklahoma State University

Volume Number

53

Issue Number

1

Abstract

What is the role of southern identity in contemporary southern politics? Research conducted prior to the Trump administration concludes that southern identity is resilient, and that political ideology had replaced race as the key factor predicting identity. Given the massive changes in southern and American politics in the last decade, however, there is reason to question whether these conclusions hold. In this paper we rely on two surveys of the southern electorate to determine whether southern identity remains resilient and whether the predictors of identity have changed. We conclude that southern identity remains central to the identity of most southerners. We also find that political ideology continues to be a, or perhaps the, primary driver of southern identity. Race is a statistically predictor in one of our models, but not in the other. We conclude by noting opportunities for future scholarly inquiry on this critical political question.

Recommended Citation

Cooper, Chris; Huffmon, Scott H.; Knotts, H. Gibbs; and McKee, Seth C. (2025) "Revisiting Southern Identity," Journal of Political Science: Vol. 53: No. 1, Article 4.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/jops/vol53/iss1/4