Professor JonesDept. of Political Science

UC-DavisFall 2009

POL 168 Chican@/Latin@ Politics

Acculturation and AssimilationWhat is it? Why might it be important? Do the changing demographics we have

observed raise questions about what constitutes “an American?”

These are real questions that spark major debate.

YouTube Clips Census Bureau PSA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bJoIxqgDZ4Footage from Immigration Rally (2006)

compiled by anti-immigration group: http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=RM9uH4XgOmIPublic Testimony in Prince William County,

VAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjT1x23i5YU

More from Virginiahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=8CbGjHLCBtg&feature=related

Acculturation Fear and the Huntington ThesisSamuel Huntington

Leading scholar of the 20th CenturyThe Third WaveThe Clash of CivilizationsWho Are We (2004)

The last book is where article comes from.The Huntington Thesis: What is it?

Who Are We? The Thesis“Mexican immigration is leading toward the

demographic reconquista of areas Americans took from Mexico by force in the 1830s and 1840s, Mexicanizing them in a manner comparable to, although different from, the Cubanization that has occurred in southern Florida. It is also blurring the border between Mexico and America, introducing a very different culture, while also promoting the emergence, in some areas, of a blended society and culture, half-American and half-Mexican. Along with immigration from other Latin American countries, it is advancing Hispanization throughout American and social, lingusitic, and economic practices appropriate for an Anglo-Hispanic society.” –S. Huntington (2004, p. 221)

Major ArgumentsLatin American immigration poses a

threat to the American creedWhy Hispanic?

Contiguity: 2000 mile borderScaleIllegalityRegional ConcentrationPersistenceHistorical Presence

Texan War 1835-1836Mexican-American War 1846-1848Aztlan? Or the fear thereof.

Aztlán is the legendary ancestral home of the Nahua peoples, one of the main cultural groups in Mesoamerica. "Azteca" is the Nahuatl word for "people from Aztlan."

AssimilationTraditional view of immigrants is that they

assimilate into the dominant cultural paradigm…the American creed

“The Melting Pot”Language Acquisition

Proliferation of “English Only” measuresBilingual Nation?

Good, bad, possible?

HispanizationMiami

“Will the last American to leave Miami, please bring the flag.”

ReconquistaNames (Social Security Admin)

http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/namesbystate.html

Incentives to assimilateThe Americano Dream?

Acculturation FearIs there ample evidence to sustain

Huntington’s argument? Perhaps the real question is this:Suppose many Americans thought in the

manner of Huntington’s ArgumentMight have some testable hypotheses

Hate CrimesAnti-immigrant/Latino legislation

Hate Crime Data (FBI)

Implications of all this?The real issue of Huntington’s argument is

the “what-if” question.…and the implications of this for Hispanics,

particularly immigrants.

Responses to HuntingonMet with widespread controversy,

particularly among Latina/o scholars. Testable hypothesesHispanics should look “differently” on a

variety of indicators. Enter Citrin et al

Citrin ResponseWhat is assimilation? “To become similar to…”What does this entail? (Discuss!)

What are the “markers” of assimilation?What does it mean to you?

Does (or should) “assimilation” mean something different now than in previous periods of immigration.

Assimilation: English Language Acquisition

Generational differencesFig 1: Citrin et al. (Speak only English OR

speak English very well)

Language UseLanguage DominanceHuntington supposition: refusal or

unwillingness to learn English.What are some factors precipitating

language acquisition?Education?Age?Local context…Hispanic concentration?Citrin et al’s results…

Language UseMain results in Table 1Generational effects are strong…But with time-in-country comes education.

Note differences across levels of education and generations.

Note also the impact of Hispanic Concentration

Other IndicatorsEnglish only opinionNational IdentityPatriotismBOTTOM LINE?