Asian Embeddedness and Political Participation: Social Integration and Asian-American Voting Behavior in the 2000 Presidential Election

Abstract

Despite the abundance of electoral research, a recurring finding is that Asian-Americans in multivariate analyses are less likely to vote compared to all other Americans. Yet Asians have high levels of education and income, the strongest predictors of voting behavior. This article goes beyond individual-level characteristics and examines how the ways in which Asian-Americans are connected to communities moderate individual-level characteristics and infiuence their electoral participation. Using hierarchical generalized linear modeling, variability in AsianAmerican voting behavior is studied with 2000

Who Votes among Asian American Ethnic Subgroups?

“…Model 4 in Table 4 indicates that the focal variable, time spent in the United States, is positively associated with voting in the 2016 presidential election; the odds of voting increase with more time spent in the United States for naturalized Asian Americans. This finding stands in contrast to prior research (Diaz 2012; Lien 2004), and our finding makes a substantial contribution to understanding voting behavior among naturalized Asian Americans. In addition, those with higher levels of educational attainment are more likely to report voting in the 2016 presidential election than those with a high school or less educational level, all else being equal.…”

“…In contrast to earlier research that asserts no relationship between time in the United States and the propensity to vote among registered Asian Americans (see Diaz 2012), we find that time in the United States is positively associated with voting in the 2016 presidential election among naturalized registered Asian Americans. This positive relationship between time in the United States and showing up to vote has been established for naturalized Americans in general (Bass and Casper 2001a), and this research extends this general pattern for the first time to ethnic subgroups of naturalized Asian Americans.…”

Impact of acculturation, online participation and involvement on voting intentions

“…Time spent on online political participation (e.g., writing to a politician online, sending a political email) and higher political involvement may enhance self-efficacy (Bandura, 1982), thus increasing the perceived benefits of voting among immigrants. Moreover, Elin (2003) suggests that expression mobilizes individuals and increases voting intentions (Diaz, 2012). Consequently, immigrants may demonstrate a propensity to be mobilized by their social networks, increasing the likelihood to vote (Diaz, 2012).…”

“…Moreover, Elin (2003) suggests that expression mobilizes individuals and increases voting intentions (Diaz, 2012). Consequently, immigrants may demonstrate a propensity to be mobilized by their social networks, increasing the likelihood to vote (Diaz, 2012). In addition, online political participation has been identified as fuelling political engagement (voting intentions) and political interest and involvement (Carlisle & Patton, 2013).…”

Are they political? Examining Asian American college students’ civic engagement.

“…According to contemporary developmental contextual theories, a thorough understanding of ethnic minority youth’s experiences requires carefully studying the individual and contextual factors that differentiate youth within a broad ethnic group (Coll et al, 1996; Spencer, 2008). The vast heterogeneity in Asian American ethnic groups’ experiences suggests that cultural background and demographic factors may help to contextualize Asian American students’ civic engagement, although past research is inconclusive and research is lacking (Diaz, 2012). We examined the role of ethnic group, immigrant status, parent education, age, gender, and political orientation in relation to Asian American college students’ civic engagement.…”