Perspectives on the racial threat hypothesis: Testing a theory of southern politics.

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dc.contributor.advisorGaddie, Ronald Keith,en_US
dc.contributor.authorBuchanan, Scott Eugene.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2013-08-16T12:30:43Z
dc.date.available2013-08-16T12:30:43Z
dc.date.issued1999en_US
dc.description.abstractBy studying the phenomenon of racial threat voting in the South, we make discoveries that allow us to understand better the complexities of it. By viewing racial threat on different planes, we gain a better understanding of how racial threat affects white voters in the South. If racial threat does exist in ways besides simple physical proximity, then racial threat may influence white voters elsewhere, potentially making this problem a national phenomenon instead of a strictly regional one.en_US
dc.description.abstractThis dissertation examines the continuing role that race plays in the politics of the American South. The focus of this study is the concept of racial threat voting, which argues that certain conditions conspire that cause white voters to feel "threatened" by black voters and black populations. Most of the prior literature on the topic of racial threat voting focuses on geographic proximity to large black populations. In this dissertation, we examine racial threat voting in three dimensions: physical proximity, culture, and the media. We also explore the role of racial threat in Republican Party success. By studying racial threat in this manner, we gain a greater conceptualization of the phenomenon. To study racial threat voting, the dissertation examines selected gubernatorial campaigns in Georgia, Louisiana, and South Carolina in a period from 1994--1998.en_US
dc.description.abstractTwo major findings emerge from this study. First, racial threat occurred at varying levels across the three states. Second, political context is vital to the existence of racial threat voting. Without the proper political environment and candidates, racial threat voting did not occur. Claims that racial threat voting always exists in southern elections are unfounded. This requirement of political context also makes it unlikely that the Republican Party can forge a durable realignment solely on race. Whites with negative racial attitudes are already predisposed to vote for the GOP. Republican candidates who try to appeal to these racially threatened whites and other groups simultaneously face a difficult prospect.en_US
dc.format.extentxi, 300 leaves :en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11244/5865
dc.noteChair: Ronald Keith Gaddie.en_US
dc.noteSource: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 60-11, Section: A, page: 4161.en_US
dc.subjectHistory, United States.en_US
dc.subjectSouthern States Race relations Political aspects.en_US
dc.subjectSociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies.en_US
dc.subjectGeorgia Race relations Political aspects.en_US
dc.subjectSouth Carolina Race relations Political aspects.en_US
dc.subjectPolitical Science, General.en_US
dc.subjectLouisiana Race relations Political aspects.en_US
dc.thesis.degreePh.D.en_US
dc.thesis.degreeDisciplineDepartment of Political Scienceen_US
dc.titlePerspectives on the racial threat hypothesis: Testing a theory of southern politics.en_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
ou.groupCollege of Arts and Sciences::Department of Political Science
ou.identifier(UMI)AAI9949691en_US

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