A critical examination of democracy

Abstract

The erosion of democratic norms and institutions continues to be top-of-mind for scholars of race and ethnic politics. In the United States, we witnessed a contested transition of the presidency from Republican Donald Trump to Democrat Joe Biden. Challenges to the 2020 election continue unabated. Democracy and inclusion are also the focus of several of the contributions in this issue of JREP. First, Sara W. Goodman and Hannah M. Alarian show that underlying notions of national identity and who should be included as a member of the polity also shape citizens ’ preferences for multiculturalism. Across 35 advanced democracies, the authors show that in places where national identity is defined in aspirational not ascriptive terms, the public supports multiculturalism. asking whether outgroup prejudice dampens the value that white Americans ascribe to democracy and institutions. whites are likely less prejudiced whites to the values of separation of powers and even support military underscore the of democracy when partisan elites notch up nativist and racist appeals a means to win elections.