Overview

The United States is once again experiencing a major influx of immigrants. Questions about who should be admitted and what benefits should be afforded to new members of the polity are among the most divisive and controversial contemporary political issues. Using an impressive array of evidence from national surveys, The Politics of Belonging illuminates patterns of public opinion on immigration and explains why Americans hold the attitudes they do. Rather than simply characterizing Americans as either nativist or nonnativist, this book argues that controversies over immigration policy are best understood as questions over political membership and belonging to the nation. The relationship between citizenship, race, and immigration drive the politics of belonging in the United States and represents a dynamism central to understanding patterns of contemporary public opinion on immigration policy. Beginning with a historical analysis, this book documents why this is the case by tracing the development of immigration and naturalization law, institutional practices, and the formation of the American racial hierarchy. Then, through a comparative analysis of public opinion among white, black, Latino, and Asian Americans, it identifies and tests the critical moderating role of racial categorization and group identity on variation in public opinion on immigration.

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9780226057163

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Reviews

"""Theoretically rich and innovative, The Politics of Belonging tackles its subject matter in an original and thought-provoking manner, deftly weaving a historical narrative of the creation of America's immigration laws with the country's racial hierarchy."" (Marisa A. Abrajano, University of California, San Diego)"""

The Politics of Belonging makes a profound contribution to the research on public opinion and immigration. Theoretically rich and innovative, it tackles the subject matter in an original and thought-provoking manner, deftly weaving a historical narrative of the creation of America's immigration laws with the country's racial hierarchy. Against this backdrop, Natalie R. Masuoka and Jane Junn offer a wealth of data to argue convincingly that public opinion on immigration is a reflection of racial attitudes. <br>--Marisa A. Abrajano, University of California, San Diego

""Theoretically rich and innovative, The Politics of Belonging tackles its subject matter in an original and thought-provoking manner, deftly weaving a historical narrative of the creation of America's immigration laws with the country's racial hierarchy."" (Marisa A. Abrajano, University of California, San Diego)""

Theoretically rich and innovative, The Politics of Belonging tackles its subject matter in an original and thought-provoking manner, deftly weaving a historical narrative of the creation of America's immigration laws with the country's racial hierarchy. (Marisa A. Abrajano, University of California, San Diego)

Author Information

Natalie Masuoka is assistant professor of political science at Tufts University. She lives in Boston. Jane Junn is professor of political science at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. She is coauthor of Education and Democratic Citizenship in America.

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