Consequences of interest group political mobilization: A case study of the Puerto Rican Political Action Committee (PRPAC) of Connecticut.
Item
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Title
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Consequences of interest group political mobilization: A case study of the Puerto Rican Political Action Committee (PRPAC) of Connecticut.
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Identifier
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AAI9417456
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identifier
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9417456
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Creator
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Cruz, Jose E.
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Contributor
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Adviser: John H. Mollenkopf
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Date
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1994
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Political Science, General | Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies
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Abstract
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This dissertation analyzes the Hartford-based Puerto Rican Political Action Committee of Connecticut (PRPAC). It traces its origins and development and its impact within the Puerto Rican community and on the city of Hartford. PRPAC represented an instance of interest articulation mediated by ethnicity, a form of identity politics. Identity politics was the medium for and outcome of interest group political mobilization. Its consequences were both salutary and problematic. In Hartford's political-economic context ethnicity facilitated political agency and access to power but it also limited the extent to which Puerto Ricans were able to exert coalition power. This was compounded by non-ethnic factors such as PRPAC's mobilization strategy, the character of its relations with individuals and institutions, features of the policy process, and the disconnect between campaigning and governing. We conclude that interest articulation is determined by the strategy, focus, and structure of political action. Also, we find that while there is a positive relationship between identity and power, in a polarized political setting, pluralist power succession is problematic.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
