Political Agency as a Threat to Social Order: Connecting Latino American Voter Turnout to Hate Crime

• In Event: 4322 - Section on Political Sociology Refereed Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 09. Conservatives and Right-Wing Politics

Abstract

Hate crime has historically been understood as motivated by economic and social-cultural forces; however, an increasing body of literature consider political motivators of hate crime. Increasing political agency of minority groups is seen as a challenge to the social order maintained by whites, resulting in efforts to reinforce social control through violence. To explore the relationship between social control and agency, I examine political motivators of hate crime. I find that an increase in Latino American voter turnout has positive effects on subsequent hate crimes. This suggests than an increase in Latino American voter turnout is seen as a threat to social control, so violence is utilized in an attempt to regain social control and order.

Author

• Gabe Miller, Texas A&M University