Cory Anderson, Ph.D.: Sociologist / Amish & Mennonite Scholar

Flashing Lights and Flickering Rights:
Recent Religious Infringement Injunction Ruling, with Critical Insights for Public Officials

For over two years, Ohio law enforcement has issued citations to Amish individuals—almost entirely Swartzentruber Amish—who religiously object to electrifying their buggies with flashing yellow lights. The citation count well exceeds 200. Six Swartzentrubers have served jail time while others

11/28/2024

Beyond the Ballot Box Margins
Further Insights from Amish News Coverage in Pennsylvania's Political Theater

Three weeks ago, I outlined how plain people’s growing numbers in Pennsylvania create an intriguing electoral dynamic—a demographic that doesn’t play by conventional political rules yet holds theoretical weight in tight races. Since then, the media spotlight has turned toward

10/28/2024

An Emerging Non-Voter Bloc:
The Dilemma of Plain People in Pennsylvania’s Political Chessboard

In the high-stakes chess game of Pennsylvania politics—the state poised to declare “checkmate” in the 2024 presidential election—there’s a piece on the board that doesn’t play by the rules. Growing in number but refusing to advance or be taken, the

10/08/2024