Understanding coalitions' emotion-belief expressions and rural identity: An ACF study of Colorado's “MeatOut”

Abstract

Over the past decade, the United States has experienced increasing political polarization and populism, often aligned with rural-urban divides. A notable example emerged in 2021, when Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued a proclamation declaring March 20th, 2021 as MeatOut Day, encouraging residents to abstain from eating meat for that day. This initiative sparked significant backlash from rural communities against the Denver-based Governor, resulting in an emotionally charged discourse between opposing groups. This study employs the Advocacy Coalition Framework to analyze this conflict, examining two key questions: How do coalitions, defined by rural-urban divisions, express emotions and beliefs in a policy conflict, and how do the attributes of these coalitions differ? The findings reveal that in policy conflicts that implicate rural life, distinct coalitions form along rural-urban divides, each characterized by unique emotional-belief expressions. The study identifies a "rural effect," characterized by deep core beliefs rooted in rural identity and negative emotions, while urban actors' policy discourse primarily draws upon policy core beliefs and positive emotions.