Dangerously Divided
How Race and Class Shape Winning and Losing in American Politics

Race, more than class or any other factor, determines who wins and who loses in American democracy.

Zoltan L. Hajnal (Author)

9781108487009, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 2 January 2020

370 pages, 23 b/w illus.
23.4 x 15.7 x 2.4 cm, 0.65 kg

'The book convincingly demonstrates that race, far more than class, is key to predicting who wins and loses in American politics.' Daniel Laurison, Social Forces

As America has become more racially diverse and economic inequality has increased, American politics has also become more clearly divided by race and less clearly divided by class. In this landmark book, Zoltan L. Hajnal draws on sweeping data to assess the political impact of the two most significant demographic trends of last fifty years. Examining federal and local elections over many decades, as well as policy, Hajnal shows that race more than class or any other demographic factor shapes not only how Americans vote but also who wins and who loses when the votes are counted and policies are enacted. America has become a racial democracy, with non-Whites and especially African Americans regularly on the losing side. A close look at trends over time shows that these divisions are worsening, yet also reveals that electing Democrats to office can make democracy more even and ultimately reduce inequality in well-being.

Introduction
Part I. Fault Lines: 1. What divides us? Race, class, and political choice
Part II. The Consequences: 2. Who wins office?
3. Which voters win elections?
4. Who wins on policy?
Part III. Immigration's Rising Impact on American Democracy: 5. Immigration is reshaping Partisan politics
6. The immigration backlash in the states
Part IV. Seeking Greater Equality: 7. Democratic Party control and equality in policy representation
8. Democratic party control and minority well-being
9. Where will we go from here?

Subject Areas: Public administration [JPP], Political structures: democracy [JPHV], Sociology [JHB], Ethnic minorities & multicultural studies [JFSL1], Ethnic studies [JFSL], Social classes [JFSC], Cultural studies [JFC], History of the Americas [HBJK]