Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper examines the role of religious fundamentalism in American political behavior. The political landscape has undergone significant changes in recent decades. A Southern Realignment that began in the 1960s guided much of this change. Since the realignment, conservative religious groups, such as evangelicals, have largely supported the Republican Party. It has been documented that religion influences political participation, and voting in particular (Satterthwaite, 2005). The context in which voters live affects how people vote. Proximity to others who are similarly (or dissimilarly) politically inclined is one source of influence (Campbell, 2006). Religion is also important in determining votersâ?? tolerance of outside groups, potentially affecting how they vote (Moore & Ovadia, 2006). Religion, however, is rarely the sole force influencing voters. Race and ethnicity continue to be significant influences on political behavior, often working in tandem with religion (Valentino & Sears, 2005). Little research to our knowledge has examined differences among various race and ethnic groups in the nature, distribution, and roles of religious fundamentalism in the political values and behaviors of the diverse American public. This paper uses a unique National Politics Study dataset of 3,600 African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics, Black Caribbean, and Non-Hispanic Whites interviewed by telephone during the 2004 election and followed-up by mail in the 2006 mid-term elections. Comparative analyses examine race and ethnic influences on factors contributing to religious fundamentalism, and the role it plays, independent of other, structural, demographic, social, and psychological, factors, in contributing to electoral and non-electoral political participation.