Access Type

Open Access Dissertation

Date of Award

January 2020

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Department

Sociology

First Advisor

Khari Brown

Abstract

This dissertation uses social psychological theory and methods to better understand the political attitudes of whites, Blacks, Latinx Americans and Asian Americans in the contemporary United States. Using quantitative methodology and survey research, I estimate the potential for cooperation and conflict between racial minorities and the political implications that these measures may have. I show that perceptions of competition with immigrants are strongly associated with anti-immigration preferences even among racial minorities such as Blacks and Latinx Americans, of who have a long history of migration to the United States. However, I also show that there is potential for interracial cooperation among groups with an awareness to racial injustices faced by themselves and others, as well as those who are open to various political tactics to push for change and those who are the most politically active. In addition, I demonstrate that these concepts that improve prospects for commonality between groups also help estimate progressive stances for race-based policy initiatives such as racial profiling and affirmative action. These findings suggest to me that the changing demographics of the United States could potentially lead to dramatic transformations of the US racial landscape that leads to more racially equitable outcomes.

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