Description: 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 national identity within American democracy can be a blessing or a curse. It can enhance participation, trust, and obligation. But it can be a curse when perceptions of deviation lead to threat and resentment. It can also be a curse for minorities who are attached to their American identity but also perceive discrimination. The notion of American identity is a predisposition that the government has good reason to cultivate, but also good reason to approach with caution.
Brief description: Deborah J. Schildkraut is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Tufts University. She is also the author of Press "One" for English: Language Policy, Public Opinion, and American Identity.
Review Quotes: "Ever since the country's founding, Americans have faced the challenge of juggling their American identities with their own distinctive national or ethnic identities. Demographic shifts over the last quarter century have made this much more complex - citizens find themselves in more heterogeneous settings that sometimes accentuate a common American identity but other times stir up resentment and discrimination against specific groups. Schildkraut's book masterfully explores how Americans contend with these competing forces; it is a seminal contribution to our basic understanding of identity and what it means to be an American in the 21st century."
--James N. Druckman, Northwestern University