Promoting Methodological Pluralism: Interpretive Methods and Racial Politics

Session Submission Type: In-Person Author meet critics

Session Description

In the spirit of the 2021 APSA annual meeting theme, this author meets critics panel celebrates methodological pluralism by engaging with Ronald Schmidt Sr.'s brilliant new book, "Interpreting Racial Politics in the United States." Going beyond longstanding behavioral approaches to research on the dynamics of race and politics, Schmidt articulates the logic of intentional interpretive research. His book lays a foundation for interpretive methods to analyze racial and ethnic politics within the context of the reality of social construction. Rather than proceed assuming the presence and desirability of value-free knowledge, Schmidt challenges scholars to produce knowledge that promotes social justice. Interlocutors who have agreed to take part if this roundtable proposal is accepted include: Cristina Beltran (NYU), Nadia Brown (Purdue), Cathy Cohen (University of Chicago), Lorrie Frasure (UCLA), Jane Junn (USC), and Natalie Masuoka (UCLA).

Sub Unit

• Division 32: Race, Ethnicity, and Politics

Cosponsor

• Related Groups / Interpretive Methodologies & Methods

Chairs

• Jane Y. Junn University of Southern California

• Cristina Beltran New York University

Presenters

• Ronald J Schmidt California State University, Long Beach

• Nadia E. Brown Georgetown University

• Cathy J. Cohen University of Chicago

• Lorrie Frasure UCLA

• Natalie Masuoka University of California, Los Angeles