
Behind the Mule
Race and Class in African-American Politics
Michael C. Dawson(Author)
Princeton University Press
Published on 23. July 1995
Book
Paperback/Softback
248 pages
978-0-691-02543-8 (ISBN)
Description
Political scientists and social choice theorists often assume that economic diversification within a group produces divergent political beliefs and behaviors. Michael Dawson demonstrates, however, that the growth of a black middle class has left race as the dominant influence on African- American politics. Why have African Americans remained so united in most of their political attitudes? To account for this phenomenon, Dawson develops a new theory of group interests that emphasizes perceptions of "linked fates" and black economic subordination.
Reviews / Votes
Winner of the 1995 Outstanding Book Award, National Conference of Black Political Scientists "[Dawson's] insights are useful for opening discussions of the ideological underpinnings of African American political beliefs and behavior. Highly recommended."--Choice "Dawson's original analytics and wide-reaching empirical tests mark Behind the Mule as a new standard in the field of African-American politics."--American Political Science ReviewMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
New Jersey
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
College/higher education
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
16 line illustrations, 33 tables
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
408 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-691-02543-8 (9780691025438)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
05/2020
1st Edition
Princeton University Press
€52.49
Available for download
Person
Michael C. Dawson is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago.
Content
List of FiguresList of TablesAcknowledgmentsPt. 1Behind the Mule: The Historical Roots of African-American Group Interests11The Changing Class Structure of Black America and the Political Behavior of African Americans32Race, Class, and African-American Economic Polarization153The Politicization of African-American Racial Group Interests45Pt. 2African-American Political Behavior and Public Opinion694Models of African-American Racial and Economic Group Interests715African-American Partisanship and the American Party System966African-American Political Choice1307Racial Group Interests, African-American Presidential Approval, and Macroeconomic Policy1618Group Interests, Class Divisions, and African-American Policy Preferences1819Epilogue: Racial Group Interests, Class, and the Future of African-American Politics204Bibliography213Index227