A BALANCED THEORY OF ETHNIC RELATIONS WITH EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THAT THEORY
Abstract
This work proposes a new synthetic model of racial and ethnic relations which combines aspects of both assimilation and pluralistic models. The purpose of the model is to explain both the amount of assimilation or pluralism the group experiences and the impact of these experiences on the group's participation in the educational, economic and political institutions of the dominant society. Thus, the focus of the model is the equality of the minority group in the institutions of the dominant society. The model involves two stages. The first stage focuses on the effects of initial entry on the degree of assimilation or pluralism the group experiences and how this is related to the group's participation in the institutions of the dominant society. The second stage focuses on a series of variables which interact with the initial entry of the group to influence the amount of assimilation or pluralism the group experiences and the participation of the group in the institutions of the dominant society. These variables include the racial and ethnic similarity between the group and the dominant society, the size and sex ratio of the group, the economic conditions in the dominant society when the group enters the society and the amount of discrimination the group experiences. The second part of this work examines the theory in the light of the experiences of six ethnic and racial groups in the U.S. In general, the predictions of the theory are supported by the experiences of these groups.
Degree
Ph.D.
Subject Area
Minority & ethnic groups|Sociology
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