Socio-economic Issues Related to Immigrants in American Political and Election Discourses

Mubarak Altwaiji,Muna Telha

doi:10.5539/ijel.v8n5p63

Abstract

Nativism is conceptually different from xenophobia. A xenophobe is not necessarily a nativist. Nativism can broadly mean binarism and racism together. This study traces the history of American politicians’ nativist rhetoric and its reflection on the life of the immigrants. In the United States, nativism has largely been a part of the leaders’ political and cultural agendas and motivated the Black-White racial binarism. Moreover, nativism continues to second this binarism and secure it from criticism by projecting it as a high level of nationalism. This paper investigates, firstly, how the nativist speech influences common man; and secondly, how the life of the immigrants is affected by this discourse. This study contrasts with many dominant theories, which hypothesize that American political discourse is controlled by the elites and directed by their nativist agendas. This study, however, finds that American political discourse is subject to the nativist pride of common white citizens who share this anima with the elites.

Highlights

Introduction and Theoretical FrameworkLiterary scholars often quote the remarks of George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) about election that “democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few” (1903: 228) or the view of Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) that “democracy is beautiful in theory; in practice it is a fallacy” (Mussolini, The New York Times. 1928). (Note 1) What is the truth in Shaw’s view and in Mussolini’s letter he wrote to the New York Times in 1928? The early contemporary scholarship of thought regards the American elections as a big event in which teams of politicians offer freedoms for salves’ owners forgetting the paramount goals of equality declared in election campaigns
The world media has reported the Republican support for the notion of ‘Nativist Mastership’ that encourages the white superiority which is better known as ‘official Racism’ or ‘Neo-racism’ against people of different colours, ethnic background and cultural affiliations. These categories have been targeted by Donald Trump who frequently calls for mass deportation of immigrants living in the United States and ending the automatic American citizenship given for foreign children born in America
One of the persistent critical inquiry, from the perspective of this study, was whether American political discourse intensifies the existed racism and proliferate ethnic inequalities that prevailed for centuries

Summary

Introduction and Theoretical Framework

Literary scholars often quote the remarks of George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) about election that “democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few” (1903: 228) or the view of Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) that “democracy is beautiful in theory; in practice it is a fallacy” (Mussolini, The New York Times. 1928). (Note 1) What is the truth in Shaw’s view and in Mussolini’s letter he wrote to the New York Times in 1928? The early contemporary scholarship of thought regards the American elections as a big event in which teams of politicians offer freedoms for salves’ owners forgetting the paramount goals of equality declared in election campaigns. The recent years witness racial classification of immigrants and minority groups by high rank officials and presidential candidates This rising binarism is an accumulation of issues such as obsession with the major issue of homeland security especially after 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington and the increasing scale of illegal immigration. These laws are the immigrants’ assistance for assimilation and the way for embracing the culture of the new homeland They represent a significant dimension of the US policy in incorporating the immigrants through banning racial discrimination. These reforms have a long history of comprehensive and successful steps that comprise several amendments to the (INA) Immigration and Nationality Act and become the major revisions in American laws of nationality and naturalization. We will use all our weapons within the law and under the Constitution to protect life and enhance security for America (Jackson, 2005, p. 202)

Thesis Statement

Election and Neo-racism

Findings

Conclusion