How is it that whites from the rural heartland, long romanticized in popular culture as the salt of the American earth, have come to make up the United States' most violent domestic terrorist movements, including militias, Identity Christians and other "hate radicals"? In the wake of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, allegedly the work of blue-eyed Timothy McVeigh, historian Stock has attempted to trace the lineage of today's extremist white rural politics. She draws clear links between contemporary hate groups and a long tradition of rural political movements characterized by a fierce commitment to the rights of small landowners and family farmers, and by a culture of vigilantism. This tradition has never fit into urban categories of left and right. As far back as colonial times, she points out, rural Americans have organized simultaneous opposition, often violent, to elite Eastern landowners and elite Eastern government: such high-school textbook examples as Shays's Rebellion, the Whisky Rebellion and the Grange movement are just a few illustrations of the point. Rural Radicals is a wild ride, particularly for readers yet unfamiliar with the recent trend in history of conducting research from the perspective of less powerful groups; yet it vividly demonstrates the value of this approach. Photos not seen by PW. (Oct.)
Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
When the federal building in Oklahoma City was bombed, the nation was stunned to learn that the terrorists could be U.S. citizens. Stock (Main Street in Crisis, Yale, 1988) argues that although the bombing was shocking, we should not be surprised that radicals exist in the rural areas of our nation. Using many secondary sources, she shows evidence of rural radicalism from Colonial times to the present. First, she looks at the political aspects of rural producer radicalism such as the Granger and Populist movements. Next, Stock addresses vigilantism from the perspectives of class (small producer vs. big business and wealth), race, and patriotism (e.g., attacks during World War I on Americans of German descent). In the final section, Stock brings all the political and vigilante aspects of rural radicalism together, discussing the shift from radicalism on the left to the far right and placing examples from our time in their historical context. A thorough, fascinating work, recommended for scholars and informed lay readers. [Alternate selection of the History Book Club.]Linda L. McEwan, Elgin Community Coll., Ill.
A disturbing yet necessary look at the historic roots and diverse
modern manifestations of rural radicalism. Stock (history,
Connecticut College) establishes the Oklahoma City bombing of 1995 as
an awakening of Americans to the realities of rural radicalism and
the network of militiamen, conspiracists, survivalists, and white
supremacists that had been there all along. She examines the
recurring themes in movements such as anti-federalism, populism, and
vigilantism, and suggests that an understanding of their roots is the
first step in understanding the action in Oklahoma City.
Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
A first-rate and highly accessible history of radicalism in rural America.
Recent events, such as the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma, have brought to light an ugly element in American political life—militant agrarian groups who have decided to take the protection of this country into their own hands. The confusion sets in, of course, when we try to understand how bombing a government building achieves such purpose. To explicate this phenomenon, and identify the true position of these militants along the political spectrum, Stock (History and American Studies/Connecticut Coll.) first turns back to the very beginnings of American rural activism. Starting in colonial times, Stock identifies two divergent strands of grassroots activity in the American countryside: The first, which she terms "rural producer radicalism," has traditionally manifested itself through demonstrations and organizations—like Shays' Rebellion, the Whiskey Rebels, the Farmers' Holiday Association—designed to protect the rights of small farmers. The second, "the culture of vigilantism," has these same interests at heart, but manifests itself through violence and racism, in organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan. Stock presents these two cultures as distinct entities, but as she herself points out, rural producer radicalism and the culture of vigilantism are brought forth from the same soil: The same deeply rooted values that fostered the Mormon Church also nourish the fanatical beliefs of the militias. In fact, it is often harder to distinguish between the two cultures than Stock cares to admit.
Ultimately, Stock refocuses our attention on what is perhaps the most frightening aspect of rural extremism: that it is not an aberration, but merely a violently skewed expression of our most deeply cherished national ideals.
A first-rate and highly accessible history of radicalism in rural America.
-- "Kirkus Reviews"Catherine McNicol Stock traces the lineage of extremist white rural politics. She draws clear links between contemporary hate groups and a long tradition of rural political movements characterized by a fierce commitment to the rights of small landowners and family farmers, and by a culture of vigilantism. Rural Radicals is a wilde ride.
-- "Publishers Weekly"
