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Substantive Symbols: The Attitudinal Dimension of Black Political Incorporation in Local Government

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  • Melissa J. Marschall
  • Anirudh V. S. Ruhil

Abstract

Traditional studies of minority incorporation focus on the redistribution of public resources that purportedly follows black gains in representation. The present study departs from this approach by focusing on the attitudinal effects of black leadership. Two research questions guide this study: To what extent do blacks' assessments of neighborhood services and conditions stem from black representation in local executive and legislative offices? Are these attitudinal effects rooted in policy and service delivery outcomes? Employing survey data from 3,000 blacks embedded in 52 cities and 53 school districts, this study reveals that blacks report higher levels of satisfaction with their neighborhood conditions, police services, and public schools when represented by blacks in city hall and on school boards and that these evaluations are most positive when improvements in local services are conspicuous. Overall, these findings extend conventional conceptualizations of substantive benefits and challenge more pessimistic accounts regarding the effects of black representation in local politics.

Suggested Citation

  • Melissa J. Marschall & Anirudh V. S. Ruhil, 2007. "Substantive Symbols: The Attitudinal Dimension of Black Political Incorporation in Local Government," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 51(1), pages 17-33, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:amposc:v:51:y:2007:i:1:p:17-33
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-5907.2007.00234.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Brian Beach & Daniel B. Jones & Tate Twinam & Randall Walsh, 2018. "Minority Representation in Local Government," NBER Working Papers 25192, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Christina Stacy & Brady Meixell & Tanaya Srini, 2019. "Inequality Versus Inclusion in US Cities," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 145(1), pages 117-156, August.
    3. Kristin Kanthak & George A. Krause, 2011. "Coordination dilemmas and the valuation of women in the U.S. Senate: Reconsidering the critical mass problem," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 23(2), pages 188-214, April.
    4. Carolyn Abott & Asya Magazinnik, 2020. "At‐Large Elections and Minority Representation in Local Government," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 64(3), pages 717-733, July.

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