Pol 168: Latin@ PoliticsPol 168: Latin@ Politics

Professor B. JonesProfessor B. JonesDept. of Political ScienceDept. of Political Science

UC-DavisUC-DavisSummer 2009Summer 2009

What is Latino Politics Research?What is Latino Politics Research?

• Academic focus on race/ethnic politics typically on African-Americans

• …which seems natural given historical circumstances.

• But as a separate field, Latino Politics has seen considerable growth…

• But what is it?

Central Issues and Themes in Central Issues and Themes in Political Science Research on Political Science Research on

LatinosLatinos• Identity Politics and Community

– “Do Latinos Exist?” (Dominguez 1994)– Blurred distinction between race and ethnicity

• The concept of “Latino” is an American concept– As such, it is sort of a clearinghouse term– Sometimes, hard to know what it means

• Is there a “Latino Vote”?

The “Latino Vote”The “Latino Vote”

• “Courting the Latino Vote”

• Analysis from CBS news (from 7/08 but basic points relevant) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKOQ96diBNQ

• So what is the Latino vote?

• BTW, California Field Poll August 2009: 21% of registered voters are Latino.

Identity PoliticsIdentity Politics

• A bloc implies identity?

• A prominent research question is the extent to which Latinos have common interests…

• Share a community…

• Have a common identity

• In literature on Af.-Americans, a prominent theme is the concept of “linked fate.”

Linked FateLinked Fate

• “Linked fate represents a stage of identification that starts with a feeling of closeness to others who identify with the group label and involves the acceptance of the belief that individual life chances are inextricably tied to the group as a whole” (Simien, Journal of Black Studies, 35: 529-550)

• Dawson, M. C. (1994). Behind the mule: Race and class in African American politics. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

• Does a similar concept apply to Latinos? Why? Why not?

• Does such a thing need to exist to sustain Latino identity?

Shared IdentityShared Identity

• Do Guatemalans “identify” with Mexicans?

• Or El Salvadorans, Hondurans, Cubans, Chileans, Colombians, Puerto Ricans, Venezuelans, Argentinians, … ?

• And all as “Latino”?

• Probably Not…

• but does this preclude the possibility of Latino Identity?

Latino IdentityLatino Identity

• Mobilization and Collective Action Research important here! (Why an important question?)

• Social Movement research important too.

• Can these things evoke “identity?”

• Importance of people like César Chávez

Latino IdentityLatino Identity

• The role Latino politicians play is important?• Do they, can they serve as “bonding agents” in

the Latino community? • We will learn about the importance of

“descriptive representation” later in the quarter. • But let’s take a quick sidetrip: CHC• http://velazquez.house.gov/chc/• Is a Latino Identity possible?

Latino IdentityLatino Identity

• What factors might promote identity? • Language? Cultural mores? Shared political

interests? • Could immigration issue serve as a “bonding

agent”? • …or is it all just a “who cares” question?!• Flip the question around?• What if non-Latinos perceived a “Latino

Identity”?

Perceptions of IdentityPerceptions of Identity

• If viewed as a group by out-group members, what are the implications?

• Have Latinos been tethered to the immigration issue?– Springfield, TN:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xcov24pcHgA• Is there an “us” vs. “them” mentality in the U.S.? • If so, where do we find it? • Brief detour: Social Identity Theory…this will

help us understand how “identities” can be “activated.”

Social Identity TheorySocial Identity Theory

• Originally developed by psychologist Henri Tajfel and developed further with John Turner

• Seeks to identify conditions under which identities emerge.

• Note: they need not always be present

• As such, group-based conflict may ebb and flow.

Social Identity TheorySocial Identity Theory

Social IdentityTheory

Social PsychologicalComponent

System Component

SocietalContext

Social Categorization and the Salience of Social

Identity

Permeability and Legitimacy

System

Historical or Political Circumstances

Predictions of Discriminatory Predictions of Discriminatory Behavior/Attitudes from Social Identity Behavior/Attitudes from Social Identity

TheoryTheory

““Tajfel’s Continuum”Tajfel’s Continuum”

Social Identity TheorySocial Identity Theory

• The notion of value threat (Branscombe et al 1999)• Status Hierarchy• Context Important• Are conditions in place or nearly in place to predict

Latino collective action? • Are we seeing signs of backlash toward Latinos? • If so, will this promote some kind of Latino Identity? • This is an issue in Latino politics research.• Let’s think about what political identity might look like?

Some DataSome Data

• Pew 2004 National Survey of Latinos: Politics and Civic Participation

• National survey of Latino/a individuals

• Let’s turn to some simple analysis and see what we learn.

Attention: US-born more attentive than non US-born Attention: US-born more attentive than non US-born in survey (p=.00, two-tail).in survey (p=.00, two-tail).

Attention to Politics by Birthplace

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

None Not Much A Fair Amount A Lot

Pro

port

ion

Non US-Born US Born

Other Results Other Results

• Mexican Origin slightly less attentive compared to non-Mexican origin.

• Cuban Origin significantly more attentive to politics compared to non-Cubano

• No significant differences in attentiveness for Central or South American descent.

• Comparisons to Anglo population?

Party AffiliationParty Affiliation

• Why care about party affiliation?– Closed primaries– Dominance of two-party system (like it or not)

• Concerns about “monolithic” vote.– Is it fair to characterize Latino/as as a singular

group?

• Let’s consider some data.

Identification: All RespondentsIdentification: All Respondents

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

REP DEM IND Other DK Ref

Party Affiliation (All Respondents)

Identification: By GenderIdentification: By Gender

Party Affiliation by Gender

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

REP DEM IND Other DK Ref

Latino Latina

Identification: By BirthplaceIdentification: By Birthplace

Party Affiliation by Birthplace

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0.5

REP DEM IND Other DK Ref

Non US-born US-born

Identification by Origin: MexicanIdentification by Origin: Mexican

• Mexican Origin– About 14 percent identify REPUBLICAN– About 35 percent identify DEMOCRAT– About 26 percent identify INDEPENDENT– About 12 percent identify as “SOMETHING

ELSE”

• Take-away points?

Identification by Origin: CubaIdentification by Origin: Cuba

• Cuban Origin– About 47 percent identify REPUBLICAN– About 19 percent identify DEMOCRAT– About 17 percent identify INDEPENDENT– About 6 percent identify as “SOMETHING

ELSE”

• Take-away points?

Identification by Origin: Puerto RicoIdentification by Origin: Puerto Rico

• Puerto Rican Origin– About 16 percent identify REPUBLICAN– About 44 percent identify DEMOCRAT– About 17 percent identify INDEPENDENT– About 12 percent identify as “SOMETHING

ELSE”

• Take-away Points?

Identification: Central AmericanIdentification: Central American

• Central American Origin– 14 percent REPUBLICAN– 32 percent DEMOCRAT– 31 percent INDEPENDENT– 6 percent SOMETHING ELSE– “Leaners” 47 percent DEM

Identification: South AmericanIdentification: South American

• South American Origin– 17 percent REPUBLICAN– 36 percent DEMOCRAT– 28 percent INDEPENDENT– 10 percent SOMETHING ELSE– “Leaners” 47 percent DEM

Implications of all of this?Implications of all of this?

• Are Latino/as monolithic, in terms of partisanship?

• What do these sliver of data suggest for the future? (If anything)

• August 2009 CA. Field Poll: – Republican: 79% WNH– Democrat: 55% WNH

• Can we detect a political identity? • It seems clear, however, why Latinos matter! • We need to look at population statistics.