Power, Politics, and Identities
Chapter 8
LO 8-1 Explain contemporary political identities
LO 8-2 Evaluate stock sociological theories regarding power, politics, and identity
LO 8-3 apply the matrix approach to U.S. political history
LO 8-4 formulate alternatives to the matrix of race and politics
2
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Contemporary Political Identities
Politics – All of the processes, activities, and institutions having to do with governance
Political identities – Political positions, based on the interests and perspectives of social groups
Represent race, gender, sexuality, language, region, and class
3
The results of political elections are dependent on how well candidates can navigate political identities
3
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Regional Differences
Political identities vary by region in the United States
Among all groups, those living in the South or the Northeast, there is a stronger likelihood that they will view reality through the lens of race
People living in the West are more likely to view class as central to their identity
4
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Political Disenfranchisement
Disenfranchisement – Revocation of the right to vote
Differs regionally
People with criminal records are disenfranchised
Hispanics and African Americans are more likely to be disenfranchised
5
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
The Role of Race, Class, and Gender
The highest levels of non-voters are associated with the lowest levels of education and income
Being eligible to vote and actually voting are two separate things
Women, across all racial groups, are more likely to vote than men
In the last two presidential elections, black women have been the most likely to vote
6
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Analyzing the 2016 Presidential Election
Voting patterns associated with education were evident in the presidential election of 2016
52% of people with college degrees voted for Clinton
52% of people without college degrees voted for Trump
Trump obtained 67% of non-college white’s vote
7
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Analyzing the 2016 Presidential Election
Voting patterns associated with race were also evident in the presidential election of 2016
Trump captured 58% of the White, non-Hispanic vote
Clinton secured 80% of Black voters
8
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Political Sociology
Political sociology – Study of government, political behaviors, institutions and processes that occur between the state, society and its citizens
The study of power, politics, and identity
9
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
The Pluralist Approach
Pluralism – Posits that power within society is decentralized, widely shared, diffuse and fragmented
Because no single group is dominant, democratic equilibrium is established
Two types of groups associated with the pluralistic model
Insider groups
Outsider groups
10
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
The Pluralist Approach
Pluralistic approach presumes that power is dispersed equally among insiders
In reality, power tends to be coalesced among a very few
11
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Power Elite Model
The Power Elite model – Suggests that power is concentrated among elites who control the resources of significant institutions
Three realms with elite members
High ranking politicians
Heads of major corporations and directors
High ranking military personnel
12
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
The Class Approach to Power
The class approach model to power assumes that the type of economic system a society has determines the kind of political structures that evolve
In the United States those who control the economic production control the political processes
13
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Critical Race Theory
Critical race theory aims to transform the relationship between race, racism, and power
Theme #1: reject, significantly challenge or re-interpret the stock socio-political theories
Theme #2: mainstream ideas, reflected disproportionately by white scholars, stress the importance of linking structural conditions to the self-interests of leaders, activists, or even regions to understand ethnic identity and the conflict that often occurs
Theme #3: the political realities that reaffirm racial hierarchies are normal
14
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Critical Race Theory
Critical race theorist Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw (1993) coined the term “intersectionality”
Identity politics – A political process or structure that relies upon people of specific religions, racial and ethnic groups, or social backgrounds to form exclusive political alliances
15
Intersectionality:
Explained that the experiences that people face represent intersecting and interacting spheres that shape structural and representational aspects of our being
Argued that political processes were best understood through this lens
15
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Applying the Matrix of Race to U.S. Political History
The original intent of the U.S. government was to diminish the conflict between the “haves and have-nots” (Madison 1788)
Power – The ability to acquire scarce resources
The political institution regulates power
16
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Building a Nation’s Identity
Previous to the Civil War the southern colonies of Maryland, Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia were staunch supporters of slavery
Economies relied on slave labor for profitability
Ultimately, the northern elites determined that free labor was more productive than slave labor
Our current Senate and House of Representatives are a direct result of how to count slaves within the population
17
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Building a Nation’s Identity
Great Compromise of 1787
Determined that slaves counted as three-fifths of a person when determining state representatives, as well as presidential electors and taxes
18
– Also included two governing bodies, wherein population would determine how many seats each state would hold in the House of Representatives, and the Senate would have two from each state
18
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Building a Nation’s Identity
Citizenship – Reflects the legal process countries use to regulate national identity, membership and rights
1790 Naturalization Act – Granted citizenship to “free white aliens” with two years’ residence
Withheld from all non-whites, slaves, and women
19
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Sovereign Peoples
Native Americans considered sovereign nationals
Independent and held authority over their own citizens and remaining land
Did not pay taxes to the United States and did not vote
Native Americans did not become citizens of the United States until 1924
20
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Immigration
U.S. immigration policies were intentional regarding race
1921 Emergency Quota Act – Limited the numbers of immigrants to the United States by imposing quotas based on the country of birth
1965 Immigration and Nationality Act – Committed the United States to accepting immigrants of all nationalities on roughly equal terms
21
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Civil War and Its Aftermath
De jure – Political practices and processes that were enacted as formal laws
De facto – Political practices and processes that, although not enshrined into laws, were carried out in practice by various entities
22
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Post Civil War De Jure Laws
Poll taxes – Two-year tax that had to be paid in advance in order to register to vote
Literacy tests – Required a person seeking to vote to read and interpret a section of the state constitution to county court
Grandfather clauses – Permitted anyone whose grandfather was qualified to vote prior to the Civil War
23
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Post Civil War De Facto Practices
In 1917 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that segregation laws were unconstitutional
However, de facto practices reinforced segregation
Restrictive covenants – Bared the resale to purchasers of a race different than the original homeowner
Redlining – Happens when mortgage lending for certain areas is influenced/determined by race
24
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
The Rise of Coalitional Politics and Social Movements
Coalitional politics – Represents political alliances of various identity groups whose purpose is to establish a specific political agenda
25
Example: Black Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968)
Utilized a series of well-orchestrated nonviolent protests and civil disobedience to force dialogues between activists and political institutions
25
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Social Movement Victories
1964 Civil Rights Act – Officially banned discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin in employment practices
1965 Voters Rights Act – Ended voting discrimination and extended federal protections to minorities
26
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Social Movement Victories
Immigration and Nationality Services Act – Removed racial and national barriers and opened immigration to black immigrants from Africa and the Western hemisphere
1968 Fair Housing Act – Ended discrimination in the sale and rental of housing
27
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Building Alternatives to the Matrix of Race and Politics
Political activism – Involves various types of actions that go beyond voting
May be as simple as writing blogs, posting on the internet, or getting involved in a letter writing campaign
28
Ex: A Day without Immigrants, February 13, 2017, staged in major cities across the country as a response to President Trump’s executive orders tightening immigration restriction
28
Coates, The Matrix of Race
SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Creating Change
Sanctuary cities
When undocumented immigrants arrested, they are not deported but must serve time associated with any crimes committed
29
