Race and ethnicity.

Abstract

To study the problem of race and ethnicity in terms of societal organizations is to recognize that the institutional processes of ordering actions and relations in terms of given social ends impose constraints on racial and ethnic group interaction whereby inter-group relations are structured antagonisms are channeled and group access to rewards and privileges is differentiated. As these processes undergo change they bring about changes not only in patterns of intergroup interaction but in the differences in intragroup experiences as well. It is important to recognize that significant changes in intragroup behavior and experience may accompany changes in the larger society. A consideration of intragroup behavior is important because in modern industrial society the economic class position of subordinate ethnic group members determines in large measure their perception and definition of the problems of racial or ethnic inequality the solutions they propose and support to eliminate the problems. The benefits that individual subordinate group members receive from changes in a societys ethnic or racial policies also tend to be related to their economic class position. The authors discuss group formation and ethnic identity psychological aspects of intergroup boundaries instrumental explanations of ethnic boundaries patterns of intergroup contact economic organization class process and the cultural division of labor state structures and group interests and developmental processes and ethnic mobilization.