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

Description

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. 01.0_pp_i_ii_Dangerously_Divided 02.0_pp_iii_iii_Dangerously_Divided 03.0_pp_iv_iv_Copyright_page 04.0_pp_v_vi_Dedication 05.0_pp_vii_viii_Contents 06.0_pp_ix_x_Illustrations 07.0_pp_xi_xi_Tables 08.0_pp_xii_xvi_Acknowledgments 09.0_pp_1_36_Introduction 10.0_pp_37_80_Fault_Lines 11.0_pp_81_142_The_Consequences_Racial_Inequality_in_Representation 12.0_pp_143_198_Immigrations_Rising_Impact_on_American_Democracy 13.0_pp_199_273_Seeking_Greater_Equality 14.0_pp_274_303_Notes 15.0_pp_304_309_Appendix 16.0_pp_310_346_References 17.0_pp_347_358_Index