RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Unpacking Identity: Opportunities and Constraints for Cross-Racial Collaboration
JF RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences
FD Russell Sage Foundation
SP 93
OP 110
DO 10.7758/RSF.2021.7.2.05
VO 7
IS 2
A1 Maneesh Arora
A1 Sara Sadhwani
A1 Sono Shah
YR 2021
UL http://www.rsfjournal.org/content/7/2/93.abstract
AB We argue that two factors are important for cross-racial coalition building: policy convergence in key issue arenas and perceived interest alignment with other racial groups. Drawing on the 2016 National Asian American Survey, we examine two of the most salient issues Asian Americans consistently rate as among the most important: immigration and economic policy. Using principal component analysis, we plot mean scores by group to analyze national-origin clustering along these two dimensions. Next, we analyze national-origin differences in perceived interest alignment with Blacks and Latinos. Combining these two factors, we identify clusters of groups that have a strong potential for cross-racial coalition building and that face greater constraints. In sum, we propose a theoretical framework for understanding cross-racial coalition building that includes disaggregating Asian Americans by national origin, and then identify which national-origin groups have the greater opportunity to form such coalitions.