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Mobilizing marginalized groups among party elites

Author(s): Masket, SE; Heaney, MT; Strolovitch, Dara Z

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Abstract: The Democratic Party has long used a system of caucuses and councils to reach out to marginalized groups among convention delegates. This article tests two hypotheses about how this system works within the party. First, the Parties in Service to Candidates Hypothesis holds that caucuses and councils mobilize elites from marginalized groups to increase support for the party nominee. Second, the Group Solidarity Hypothesis holds that caucuses and councils mobilize elites from marginalized groups to enhance group solidarity. Regression analysis of data drawn from an original survey of delegates to the 2008 Democratic National Convention provides no support to the Service Hypothesis, while the evidence supports the Solidarity Hypothesis in the case of the Women's Caucus, which became a rallying point for women who were disappointed that Hillary Clinton was not the Democratic Party nominee. A similar survey of delegates to the 2008 Republican National Convention did not uncover a parallel system of representing marginalized groups within the Republican Party.
Publication Date: 1-Jan-2014
Citation: Masket, SE, Heaney, MT, Strolovitch, DZ. (2014). Mobilizing marginalized groups among party elites. The Forum, 12 (2), 257 - 280. doi:10.1515/for-2014-5007
DOI: doi:10.1515/for-2014-5007
EISSN: 1540-8884
Pages: 257 - 280
Type of Material: Journal Article
Journal/Proceeding Title: The Forum
Version: Final published version. Article is made available in OAR by the publisher's permission or policy.



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