Racial and Political Dynamics of an Approaching “Majority-Minority” United States

2018/04/25 by Maureen A. Craig, Julian M. Rucker, Jennifer A. Richeson · 180 citations
Social Sciences · #Demographics #Demography #Diversity (politics) #Electoral Systems and Political Participation #Ethnic group #Ideology #Law #Political economy #Political science #Politics #Racial and Ethnic Identity Research #Racial diversity #Scope (computer science) #Social and Intergroup Psychology #Sociology

paper · pdf · doi:10.1177/0002716218766269

published in The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 677(1), 204-214 (SAGE Publishing)

openalex publication_date 2018/04/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25

Abstract

Do demographic shifts in the racial composition of the United States promote positive changes in the nation’s racial dynamics? Change in response to the nation’s growing diversity is likely, but its direction and scope are less clear. This review integrates emerging social-scientific research that examines how Americans are responding to the projected changes in the racial/ethnic demographics of the United States. Specifically, we review recent empirical research that examines how exposure to information that the United States is becoming a “majority-minority” nation affects racial attitudes and several political outcomes (e.g., ideology, policy preferences), and the psychological mechanisms that give rise to those attitudes. We focus primarily on the reactions of members of the current dominant racial group (i.e., white Americans). We then consider important implications of these findings and propose essential questions for future research.

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