Race and Ethnicity in American Politics

Midterm Exam

REP

The study of racial and ethnic groups in the United States and how their similarities and differences inform their policies

Inegalitarianism

A tradition of excluding large segments of the American population from participating in the political system, despite the language of equality, liberty, and freedom

Naturalization Act of 1970

Only a “free White person” could be naturalized to become a citizen

Race

A way of categorixing people, race is a socially constructed category,

Racial formation

The sociohistorical process by which racial identities are created, lived out, transformed, and destroyed

Objective perspective of Race

Rooted in biological differences. Static trait

Illusory perspective of Race

An ideological construct masking more material. Not real

Racialization

When racial meaning is given to a previously racially unclassified relationship, social practice, or group

Racial Project

When racial meaning is linked to resource distribution

Racism

A racial project that creates or reproduces domination and subordination

Explicit Racism

Hate crimes, white supremacy

Implicit Racism

Unconscious bias, systemic exclusion

Colorblindness

Denies racism while reinforcing inequality

Intragroup

Within a single group/community

Intergroup

Between two or more groups/communities

Social Identity Theory

The development of in-group bias (Tajfel and Turner)

Social Categorization Theory

The process of self-categorization into a social group (Turner)

Group Membership

Societal categorization, not necessarily chosen by the individual

Group Identification

Recognized commonality and psychological attachment, can exist without formal group membership

Group Consciousness

Awareness and politicized beliefs, belief in collective action, rooted in oppression and struggle

Reference group

Group a person wants to belong to and chooses to identify with

Black Utility Heuristic

Racial group interests as a proxy for self-interests

Different Trajectories Approach

Discusses racialization as distinct across racial/ethnic groups

Racial Hierarchy Approach

Creates a rank-order scale of privilege

Relative Valorization

Process in the racial triangulation of Asian Americans, where they are elevated over more marginalized groups, like Black Americans, by the dominant White group to maintain racial hierarchy and divide subordinate groups

Civic Ostracism

The othering/ostracization of Asian Americans

Common Ingroup Identity

Shared discrimination can reduce outgroup boundaries

Realistic Group Conflict Theory

Focuses on the perceived tangible threat Black Americans pose to White Americans, fears of racial integration and crime, weak empirical evidence

Symbolic Racism

Emphasizes sociocultural learning, more subtle form of racism, moral feelings towards Black Americans

Racial Resentment

Three pillars: Anti-Black affect, belief in work ethic, denial of discrimination

White Racial Identity

Sense of belonging and shared fate as white

Anti-democratic backlash

Citizens punish norm-violating elites

White status threat

Belief that whites are losing dominance

Expressive Partisanship

You join that party that includes people like you

Instrumental Partisanship

Challenges the psychological attachment perspective, running tally of evaluations

Black Disillusionment

A sense of disappointment or frustration among Black Americans when political institutions, leaders, or parties fail to address racial inequality or fulfill promises of racial progress

Electoral Capture

A situation where a political party relies heavily on the support of a particular group of voters, yet feels little pressure to address that group’s interests because it assumes their loyalty and faces limited risk of defection

Role identity theory

How people’s behaviors are shaped by the social roles tied to their group memberships

Candidate Evaluations

The public’s perception of a political candidate’s competence, qualifications, trustworthiness, and likability

Social role theory

“Gendered traits and stereotypes develop as a result of the differential roles that men and women traditionally occupy in society” (Schneider and Boss)

Political participation

Actions by private citizens aimed at influencing government, policy, or leaders

Resource model

High levels of socioeconomic status (time, money, education) equal motivation to participate in the electoral system 

Civic voluntarism model

All about psychological orientations (resources, engagement, recruitment)

Political efficacy

The belief that my actions can make a difference

Internal efficacy

The belief that the government will respond to me and “people like me”

Empowerment Theory

Minority representation = increased engagement