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Social Identity Theory and Public Opinion towards Immigration

Author

Listed:
  • Maruice Mangum

    (Department of Social Sciences, Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, AL 35762, USA)

  • Ray Block

    (Political Science Department and African American and Africana Studies Program, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40506, KY, USA)

Abstract

Several scholars have called upon social identity theory to investigate the relationship between an American national identity and American public opinion on immigration. Lacking a uniform measure of American identity, by and large, scholars find that a two-dimensional conception of American identity influences these opinions. Our review suggests that the extant measures of American identity do not fully account for the various aspects of social identity theory. We capture more fully the different components of social identity theory. By doing so, we find that American identity has five dimensions. Therefore, in this analysis, we advance a more comprehensive measure of American identity. Analyzing data from the 2004–2005 National Politics Survey, we confirm that all five dimensions of American identity lead to opposition to legal immigration and a preference for spending increases to combat illegal immigration.

Suggested Citation

  • Maruice Mangum & Ray Block, 2018. "Social Identity Theory and Public Opinion towards Immigration," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:7:y:2018:i:3:p:41-:d:135407
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Leonie Huddy & Nadia Khatib, 2007. "American Patriotism, National Identity, and Political Involvement," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 51(1), pages 63-77, January.
    2. Alan G. Green & David A. Green, 1999. "The Economic Goals of Canada's Immigration Policy, Past and Present," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 25(4), pages 425-451, December.
    3. Ted Brader & Nicholas A. Valentino & Elizabeth Suhay, 2008. "What Triggers Public Opposition to Immigration? Anxiety, Group Cues, and Immigration Threat," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 52(4), pages 959-978, October.
    4. John E. Transue, 2007. "Identity Salience, Identity Acceptance, and Racial Policy Attitudes: American National Identity as a Uniting Force," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 51(1), pages 78-91, January.
    5. George A. Akerlof & Rachel E. Kranton, 2000. "Economics and Identity," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 115(3), pages 715-753.
    6. Sides, John & Citrin, Jack, 2007. "European Opinion About Immigration: The Role of Identities, Interests and Information," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 37(3), pages 477-504, July.
    7. Shayo, Moses, 2009. "A Model of Social Identity with an Application to Political Economy: Nation, Class, and Redistribution," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 103(2), pages 147-174, May.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Peter Howley & Muhammad Waqas & Mirko Moro & Liam Delaney & Tony Heron, 2020. "It’s Not All about the Economy Stupid! Immigration and Subjective Well-Being in England," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 34(5), pages 919-936, October.
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    6. Azam, Muhammad & Hunjra, Ahmed Imran & Taskin, Dilvin & Al-Faryan, Mamdouh Abdulaziz Saleh, 2023. "Role of ethnic conflicts, regularization and natural resource abundance in sustainable development," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).

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