Americanism in the Twenty-First Century: Public Opinion in the Age of Immigration [Hardcover]

Explores public opinion about being and becoming American, and its implications for contemporary immigration debates.This book explores public opinion about being and becoming American, and its implications for contemporary immigration debates. It uses a new national public opinion survey that examines attitudes among the white majority, as well as among immigrants, about American identity and citizenship. The book evaluates the claim that all Americans should prioritize an American identity instead of an ethnic or national origin identity. National identity can enhance participation, trust, and obligation. But it can also lead to threat and resentment, and, among members of minority groups, it can lead to alienation from political institutions and co-nationals.This book explores public opinion about being and becoming American, and its implications for contemporary immigration debates. It uses a new national public opinion survey that examines attitudes among the white majority, as well as among immigrants, about American identity and citizenship. The book evaluates the claim that all Americans should prioritize an American identity instead of an ethnic or national origin identity. National identity can enhance participation, trust, and obligation. But it can also lead to threat and resentment, and, among members of minority groups, it can lead to alienation from political institutions and co-nationals.This book explores public opinion about being and becoming American, and its implications for contemporary immigration debates. It focuses on the causes and consequences of two aspects of American identity: how people define being American and whether people think of themselves primarily as American rather than as members of a panethnic or national origin group. Importantly, the book evaluates the claim  made by scholars and pundits alike  that all Americans should prioritize their American identity instead of an ethnic or national origin identity. It finds that nalS@