From Inclusion to Influence
Latino Representation in Congress and Latino Political Incorporation in America
Identifies the ways in which Latinos in Congress represent their fellow Latinos, thereby promoting democracy in our government
Description
In From Inclusion to Influence, Walter Wilson addresses urgent questions regarding the political incorporation of Latinos in America. First, he demonstrates that Latino representatives in the U.S. Congress do, in fact, represent Latino interests more effectively than do other representatives, both by serving as conduits connecting fellow Latinos to the government and by introducing their concerns into the legislative process. Then, moving beyond the debate about descriptive and substantive representation, Wilson identifies the ways in which the efforts of Latinos in Congress enable the meaningful inclusion of Latinos in politics, foster the ability of Latinos to shape public policy, and ultimately promote democracy in an increasingly diverse nation.
Walter Clark Wilson is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Reviews
"From Inclusion to Influence would be useful for scholars seeking to better understand ethnic marginalization, barriers to the policymaking process, and nuances in political behavior among Latino and non-Latino co-partisans. It provides clearly discernible ways in which Latino members of Congress work to provide symbolic, descriptive, and substantive representation to American Latinos."
- Sherelle Roberts-Pierre
-- Sherelle Roberts-Pierre, Legislative Scholar newsletter of the Legislative Scholars Section of the American Political Science Association