Political Science 306

Spring 2000

Urban Race and Ethnic Politics

Professor Richard Keiser	Office: Willis 417
Phone: 646-4122 (Office)	Email: rkeiser@carleton.edu
Office Hours

This course is an advanced seminar designed for juniors and seniors with significant background in the study of American politics and society. The class will be oriented toward student discussion of ideas raised in assigned readings and other materials that individual students discover from the multiplicity of sources on these topics. The course is designed to prepare students for a significant research project in this topic. With that goal in mind, we will be introduced to eight topic areas, each of which represents fertile area for student research. All readings are on reserve at Gould library. The three course books may be purchased at the bookstore.

Requirements and Grading for the course are as follows:

• Frequent class participation that demonstrates understanding of the material (20%).
• Three writing assignments (about 5 pages each) selected from the eight topic areas. This will summarize an issue, debate or puzzle within the topic area that deserves the attention of scholars and citizens and then discuss a research plan and method. At least one of these must be turned in by April 28 (20%).
• One take home midterm examination (30%).
• A research paper (20 page minimum) drawn from any of the topic areas, unless alternative arrangements are made with the instructor. This will be due on the day of the final examination. The paper will demonstrate mastery of theory and will represent an initial foray into research that builds theory. Students who are not majors in political science may petition the instructor to take a final examination in lieu of the research paper (30%). Each student must meet formally with the instructor, at least once, regarding topic selection and approach or alternative fulfillment of this requirement.

Topic 1 - Pan-Ethnic identity and politics

3/30: Lopez and Espiritu, "Panethnicity in the United States: A theoretical framework."

Nagel, "American Indian Ethnic Renewal: politics and the resurgence of identity."

Gamson, "Must Identity Movements Self-Destruct? A queer dilemma."

We want to explain identity formation, ethnic and pan-ethnic. Those are our two separate dependent variables. What are some hypothesized independent (explanatory) variables? Are there antecedent or intervening variables? What questions of public policy emerge from these readings? What research topics emerge?

Topic 2 - Representation

4/4: Perry, "The Evolution and Impact of Biracial Coalitions and Black Mayors…."

Browning, Marshall, and Tabb, "Taken In or Just Taken?"

Swain, "The Future of Black Representation."

Lets first be clear that the first two articles are complementary. What is the topic and the perspective? Why is the third article and rejoinders a considerably different topic and what is the topic? Now, how are the three authors engaged in a profound strategic and philosophical argument? What research topics emerge?

Topic 3 - Black Mayors

4/6: Sleeper, "The End of the Rainbow."

Beinart, "Pride of the cities"

Beinart, "New Bedfellows"

Milbank, "New Pragmatism: Cleveland's Mayor Shuns Black Themes…."

Keiser, "After the First Black Mayor."

(recommended only) Keiser, "Analyzing Urban Regime Change."

Again, the first two are complementary and make a specific argument; explain. The third raises issues, captured in the title, that are separate; discuss. The third can also be seen as a response to the first, explain how. What research topics emerge from these articles? Be specific about what your research strategy and method would be, what variables would you examine to test which hypotheses?

Topic 4 - The LA Riots/Rebellion

4/11: Miles, "Blacks vs. Browns."

Johnson, Farrell, and Oliver, "Seeds of the Los Angeles Rebellion of 1992."

Morrison and Lowry, " A Riot of Color."

Bobo et al., Public Opinion Before and After a Spring of Discontent."

(Recommended only) Freer, "Black-Korean Conflict."

Here we don't have any pairings; rather, there are five articles that seem to speak to each other. What do they have to say, what evidence do they use, where do they agree and disagree, and what research agendas emerge? Any relevance for past readings, linkages?

Topic 5 - Institutional arrangements and political outcomes

4/13: Engstrom, "Electoral Arrangements and Minority Political Incorporation."

Lublin, "Race, Representation and Redistricting."

Guinier, "The Representation of Minority Interests."

Miller, "Racial Gerrymandering"

Here we don't have any pairings; rather, there are four articles that seem to speak to each other. What do they have to say, what evidence do they use, where do they agree and disagree, and what research agendas emerge? Any relevance for past readings, linkages?

Topic 6 -Ethnic politics in New York City

4/18: McNickle, To Be Mayor of New York, chs 1-5.

This book presents an excellent ethnic political history of New York City. There is very little analysis, however. This abundance of data makes the book a fertile source for the generation of analytical puzzles and for the creation of causal hypotheses. Your task in each class is to discern patterns, isolate puzzles, or develop causal questions that have important scholarly implications. Try to find, in this reading, empirical illustration of the theoretical concepts and equations that we have explored in the first five topics. As well, pay attention to issues of coalition formation and dissolution, coalition hierarchy, ethnic succession, the separate roles of the federal and state governments, generational differences within ethnic groups, ideology vs. interest in group mobilization, and specific goals of groups.

4/20: McNickle, chs. 6-10

4/25: McNickle, chs. 11-13.

4/27: Steinberg, "The Influence of a Political Corruption Scandal …."

Read one of the following two articles:

Featherman and Rosenberg, "Jews, Blacks and Ethnics."

Zikmund, "Mayoral Voting and Ethnic Politics …."

4/28: At least one of the writing assignments must be turned in by this date, preferably earlier. The midterm examination will be distributed at this point in the course and will be due on Friday, May 5, at 1 pm. There will be no class during this week.

Topic 7 - Latino Ethnic Identity

5/9: de la Garza, et al., Latino Voices, chs. 3, 6, 7.

Padilla, Latino Ethnic Consciousness, chs. 1-2

Here we return explicitly to issues raised in topic 1. We also have more empirical material that can be organized in a comparison with the white ethnic history presented in McNickle.

5/ 11: Padilla, chs. 3-5.

Topic 8 - Asian-American Political Identity

5/16: Espiritu, Asian-American Panethnicity, chs. 1-3.

Again we have another analysis that raises the issues of topic 1. We can speak comparatively about white ethnics, Latinos, and Asian Americans (and even African-Americans).

5/18: Espiritu, chs. 4-5.

5/23: Espiritu, chs. 6-7.

Lai, "Asian Pacific Americans and the Pan-Ethnic Question"

5/25 and 5/30: TBA