The Puzzling Politics of American Jews Kenneth D Wald Why do Jews vote as they do Refers to ordinary Jews Not a philosophicalnormative critique Presents a series of puzzles Talk will Summarize American Jewish political behavior ID: 324478
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "The Choosing People:" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
The Choosing People:The Puzzling Politics of American JewsKenneth D. WaldSlide2
Why do Jews vote as they do?Refers to ordinary JewsNot a philosophical/normative critiquePresents a series of puzzlesTalk willSummarize American Jewish political behaviorExamine central puzzles
Describe traditional explanationsCritique these and offer an alternativeSlide3
How do Jews Vote?Self-reported Presidential Vote of Jews & the Entire Electorate, 1948-2008
Source: Forman 2001
X=74%
X=47%Slide4
How do Jews Vote?Comparing Presidential Vote of Jews & the Entire Electorate, 1972-2008
Source: Solomon Project 2012
X=74%
X=47%Slide5
How do Jews identify themselves?Slide6
How do Jews identify themselves?Slide7
Puzzle #1 - The “Himmelfarb” Puzzle
“Jews earn like Episcopalians but vote like Puerto Ricans—only more so.”
On
almost all issues—economic policy, foreign policy, social issues—Jews are well to the left of comparableAmericans
Why
is this a puzzle? Slide8
Religion and EconomicsSource: New York Times Magazine, May 11, 2011 Slide9
Explaining the Himmelfarb Puzzle“Judaic” explanationsJewish valuesJewish historyMinority consciousnessEven if true, fail because they are universal (Puzzle #2) and static (Puzzle #3)Slide10
Puzzle #2 - spaceLargely an American phenomenonUS ≠ Britain, France, Canada, Australia, S. Africa, or Israel Sometimes centrist, divided, right-wing, indistinguishable
Slide11
Puzzle #3 – Short-term changes Varies across time No persuasive explanation Slide12
Need a “situational” theoryClassic liberalism says state has no religious competenceJews are attracted to the classically liberal polity of the United States because they believe that its disregard of religion as a basis for citizenship/legal status has permitted them—more wholeheartedly and consistently than elsewhere—to participate fully in society.Hence, Jewish self-interest not simply economicJews value unique secular character of state
Jews respond to threats to liberal regime Slide13
Liberal regimeMadison rejects Republican/ethnocultural models of citizenship: “. . . in matters of Religion, no man's right is abridged by the institution of Civil Society and . . . Religion is wholly exempt from its cognizance.”Article VI, Sec. 3: “. . . no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”Conferred “full immunities of citizenship”Benjamin Nones: “Among the nations of Europe we are inhabitants everywhere—but Citizens no where [sic]
unless in Republics” [emphasis in original]. Slide14
Defense became priorityInitial attempt to secure equal status with ChristianityEliminate state establishments, oaths & disabilitiesGradually broadened to secular strategy via lawProvided a stake in liberal regime:“
Had he lived in Europe, he would have been very content to receive the rights enjoyed by American Jews. Not so here; . . . He was not satisfied with a partial liberty; he wanted it whole”
(Marcus quoted in Chyet 1958, 20). Slide15
Response to perceived threats During 60s, threat from the left
From 80s onward, threat from the right
Source: Pew Center 2007Slide16
Exceptions?Orthodox/Ultraorthodox RussiansSlide17
For more information . . . Paper is available at:Wald, Kenneth D. 2011. “The Puzzling Politics of American Jewry.” Guiding Papers Series, The American Religion Data Archives, http://www.thearda.com/rrh/papers/guidingpapers/wald.asp