2016/04/04 by Daniel Q. Gillion · 2 citations
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #American Constitutional Law and Politics #Electoral Systems and Political Participation #Law, Rights, and Freedoms #Political and Economic history of UK and US #Rhetoric and Communication Studies
paper · doi:10.1017/cbo9781316412299
openalex publication_date 2016/04/04 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/15
"Rather than considering political discussions and rhetoric as symbolic, inconsequential forms of politics, Governing with Words conceptualizes them as forms of government action that can shape institutions and societal norms. Daniel Q. Gillion refers to this theory as 'discursive governance'. Federal politicians' statements about racial and ethnic minority concerns aid the passage of minority public policies and improve individual lifestyle behaviors. Unfortunately, most of the American public continues to disapprove of politicians' rhetoric that highlights race. The book argues that addressing racial and ethnic inequality continues to be a tug-of-war between avoiding the backlash of the majority in this nation while advocating for minority interests. Even though this paradox looms over politicians' discussions of race, race-conscious political speech, viewed in its entirety, is the mechanism by which marginalized groups find a place in the democratic process. Such race-conscious discussions, the book argues, have ramifications both within and outside of government"...