Behind the Mule: Race and Class in African-American Politics

by Michael C. Dawson

Overview

Political scientists and social choice theorists often assume that economic diversification within a group produces divergent political beliefs and behaviors. Michael Dawson demonstrates, however, that the growth of a black middle class has left race as the dominant influence on African- American politics. Why have African Americans remained so united in most of their political attitudes? To account for this phenomenon, Dawson develops a new theory of group interests that emphasizes perceptions of "linked fates" and black economic subordination.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691025438
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	07/23/1995
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	7.75(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Michael C. Dawson is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago.

Table of Contents

	List of Figures	vii
	List of Tables	ix
	Acknowledgments	xi
Part 1	Behind the Mule: The Historical Roots of African-American Group Interests	1
1.	The Changing Class Structure of Black America and the Political Behavior of African Americans	3
2.	Race, Class, and African-American Economic Polarization	15
3.	The Politicization of African-American Racial Group Interests	45
Part 2	African-American Political Behavior and Public Opinion	69
4.	Models of African-American Racial and Economic Group Interests	71
Appendix 1	Data and Models for Chapter 4	89
5.	African-American Partisanship and the American Party System	96
Appendix 2	Data and Models for Chapter 5	122
6.	African-American Political Choice	130
Appendix 3	Data and Models for Chapter 6	158
7.	Racial Group Interests, African-American Presidential Approval, and Macroeconomic Policy	161
8.	Group Interests, Class Divisions, and African-American Policy Preferences	181
Appendix 4	Data and Models for Chapter 8	200
9.	Epilogue: Racial Group Interests, Class, and the Future of African-American Politics	204
	Bibliography	213
	Index	227

What People are Saying About This

Hanes Walton

Scholarship, in disciplines and subfields, significantly changes, when mature, inventive, and brilliant works emerge. This book is one such moment and event. It is a pioneering and painstaking exploration of African-American politics from the standpoint of the people in that community, using their opinions, attitudes, and behaviors as guides.
— Hanes Walton, Jr., University of Michigan

From the Publisher

"Scholarship, in disciplines and subfields, significantly changes, when mature, inventive, and brilliant works emerge. This book is one such moment and event. It is a pioneering and painstaking exploration of African-American politics from the standpoint of the people in that community, using their opinions, attitudes, and behaviors as guides."—Hanes Walton, Jr., University of Michigan

"Until now, no one has fully probed the contours of black group identity or looked systematically at the tension between solidarity and class differences among African Americans. Michael Dawson has done just that. He combines the best survey, a deep sense of historical and social context, and a vivid realization of why politics matters to show us how much African Americans remain unified, where they are dividing, and how racial group interests deeply affect all Americans."—Jennifer Hochschild, Harvard University

Jennifer Hochschild

Until now, no one has fully probed the contours of black group identity or looked systematically at the tension between solidarity and class differences among African Americans. Michael Dawson has done just that. He combines the best survey, a deep sense of historical and social context, and a vivid realization of why politics matters to show us how much African Americans remain unified, where they are dividing, and how racial group interests deeply affect all Americans.
— Jennifer Hochschild, Harvard University

Editorial Reviews

"Dawson's original analytics and wide-reaching empirical tests mark Behind the Mule as a new standard in the field of African-American politics."

American Political Science Review

"[Dawson's] insights are useful for opening discussions of the ideological underpinnings of African American political beliefs and behavior. Highly recommended."

Choice

Winner of the 1995 Outstanding Book Award, National Conference of Black Political Scientists

From the Publisher