The Political Consequences of Racialized Ethnic Identities

Racial classifications are a social construct with no basis in biology; yet, race is an omnipresent and powerful factor in U.S. politics, shaping electoral boundaries, disbursement of resources, and political alliances (Omi and Winant 1994, Haney López 1994). Race, then, is a malleable construct wie...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Political research quarterly 2023-12, Vol.76 (4), p.1857-1871
Main Authors: Cardenas, Kimberly, Silber Mohamed, Heather, Michelson, Melissa R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acknowledgment
Biology
Elections
Ethnic identity
Hispanic Americans
Immigrants
Latin American cultural groups
Political alliances
Politics
Race
Racial identity
Racialization
Social construction
Social response
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Summary:Racial classifications are a social construct with no basis in biology; yet, race is an omnipresent and powerful factor in U.S. politics, shaping electoral boundaries, disbursement of resources, and political alliances (Omi and Winant 1994, Haney López 1994). Race, then, is a malleable construct wielded by varying interests, with racial definitions changing in response to social and political battles. Some new immigrant groups initially classified as not white have been reclassified as white over time, thereby benefitting from associated legal, economic, and sociopolitical privileges. More recently, however, some Latinos have sought recognition as a distinct non-white racial group, in acknowledgment of the racialization of their identities over time. We seek to better understand who is most likely to support a racialized Latino identity, and the political consequences of this choice. Using data from the 2020 Collaborative Multiracial Post-election Survey, we test whether individuals who believe that a Latino identity is a racial identity are also more likely to be interested in and engaged in politics. We also examine the extent to which support for a racialized Latino identity is associated with progressive attitudes on racial issues.
ISSN:1065-9129
1938-274X
DOI:10.1177/10659129231181079