From a NewScientist (26 April 2019, paywall) sidebar:
Bedrock of democracy
The impact of the planet’s geology is even visible in how people vote. Running through the staunchly Republican south-eastern US states, for example, is a distinct crescent of Democrat-voting counties (see graphic, below). This curve closely follows an exposed band of 75-million-year-old rocks laid down during the Cretaceous period. These have produced a very rich, fertile soil, which was found to be perfect for growing cotton. In the mid-1800s, cultivation of this crop led to a boom in slave labour. A high proportion of African-Americans still remain in these areas, where they favour the more liberal policies of the Democratic party, and continue to vote for its presidential candidates.
Fascinating stuff. I wonder if Professor Turchin has ever considered this sort of cultural influence during his demographics research. The geographic movements of a specific group of people, based their source of origin, might or might not perturb the cycles of prosperity/poverty in interesting ways that make them more predictable.
