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““The Hispanic Challenge”The Hispanic Challenge”

Samuel P. Huntington, Samuel P. Huntington, Foreign PolicyForeign Policy, March/April , March/April

20042004..

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Key questionsKey questions What is the probable impact on this nation of a What is the probable impact on this nation of a

very large number of immigrants from nations very large number of immigrants from nations with cultures that are markedly different and with with cultures that are markedly different and with different kinds of governmental systems?different kinds of governmental systems?

Should those immigrants be embraced as Should those immigrants be embraced as potential producers of enhanced diversity and potential producers of enhanced diversity and excitement and wealth, or should they be excitement and wealth, or should they be regarded as highly problematic?regarded as highly problematic?

If they are to be incorporated into the American If they are to be incorporated into the American polity and economy, what public policies would polity and economy, what public policies would aid the process?aid the process?(“The Hispanic Challenge? What We Know about Latino (“The Hispanic Challenge? What We Know about Latino

Immigration,” Strum, p. 1)Immigration,” Strum, p. 1)

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How does Huntington understand How does Huntington understand “culture” and US national identity?“culture” and US national identity?

Consider this claim:Consider this claim:

““Contributions from immigrant Contributions from immigrant cultures modified and enriched the cultures modified and enriched the Anglo-Protestant culture of the Anglo-Protestant culture of the founding settlers. The founding settlers. The essentialsessentials of of that founding culture remained the that founding culture remained the bedrock of US identity…”bedrock of US identity…”

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““The persistent flow of Hispanic immigrants The persistent flow of Hispanic immigrants threatens to divide the US into two peoples, threatens to divide the US into two peoples,

two, cultures and two languages.”two, cultures and two languages.”

Unlike past immigrant groups, Mexicans Unlike past immigrant groups, Mexicans and other Latinos have not assimilated and other Latinos have not assimilated into mainstream US cultureinto mainstream US culture– forming their own political and linguistic forming their own political and linguistic

enclaves—from LA to Miamienclaves—from LA to Miami– rejecting the Anglo-Protestant values rejecting the Anglo-Protestant values

that built the American dreamthat built the American dream

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US/American identity has changed US/American identity has changed over timeover time

““America was created by 17America was created by 17thth and 18 and 18thth century settlers, who were century settlers, who were overwhelmingly white, British, Protestant.”overwhelmingly white, British, Protestant.”– Initially defined America in terms of race, ethnicity, culture, and Initially defined America in terms of race, ethnicity, culture, and

religionreligion In 18In 18thth century, had to define America ideologically, to justify century, had to define America ideologically, to justify

independence from their home country, also white, British and independence from their home country, also white, British and ProtestantProtestant

By late 19By late 19thth century, the ethnic component was broadened to century, the ethnic component was broadened to include Germans, Irish, and Scandinavians; religious identity was include Germans, Irish, and Scandinavians; religious identity was redefined from Protestant to Christianredefined from Protestant to Christian

After WWII and assimilation of large numbers of southern and After WWII and assimilation of large numbers of southern and eastern European immigrants, ethnicity virtually disappeared as a eastern European immigrants, ethnicity virtually disappeared as a defining component of national identitydefining component of national identity

After Civil Rights movement and Immigration and Nationality Act After Civil Rights movement and Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, race receded as component of identityof 1965, race receded as component of identity

““As a result, American identity is now defined in terms of culture As a result, American identity is now defined in terms of culture and creed”and creed”

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Threats to American national identity Threats to American national identity

Doctrines of multiculturalism and diversityDoctrines of multiculturalism and diversity Rise of group identities based on race, ethnicity Rise of group identities based on race, ethnicity

and gender over national identityand gender over national identity Impact of cultural diasporasImpact of cultural diasporas Expanding # of immigrants with dual nationalities Expanding # of immigrants with dual nationalities

and dual loyaltiesand dual loyalties Growing salience of cosmopolitan identities for Growing salience of cosmopolitan identities for

intellectual, business and political elitesintellectual, business and political elites Forces of globalizationForces of globalization

– create need for smaller and more meaningful “blood and create need for smaller and more meaningful “blood and belief” identitiesbelief” identities

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What makes current Mexican/Latin What makes current Mexican/Latin American immigration differentAmerican immigration different

ContiguityContiguity ScaleScale IllegalityIllegality Regional ConcentrationRegional Concentration PersistencePersistence Historical PresenceHistorical Presence

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But is Mexican immigration really so But is Mexican immigration really so different, Mexican culture so alien?different, Mexican culture so alien?

Huntington argues that Mexicans and Huntington argues that Mexicans and other Latinos, unlike other immigrant other Latinos, unlike other immigrant groups, have not assimilated into groups, have not assimilated into mainstream US culturemainstream US culture– instead forming their own political and instead forming their own political and

linguistic enclaves—from LA to Miamilinguistic enclaves—from LA to Miami– rejecting the Anglo-Protestant values rejecting the Anglo-Protestant values

that built the American dreamthat built the American dream

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““Irreconcilable Differences”?Irreconcilable Differences”?

Huntington: “As their numbers increase, Huntington: “As their numbers increase, [Mexican Americans] become more [Mexican Americans] become more committed to their own ethnic identity and committed to their own ethnic identity and culture. Sustained numerical expansion culture. Sustained numerical expansion promotes cultural consolidation and leads promotes cultural consolidation and leads Mexican Americans not to minimize but to Mexican Americans not to minimize but to glory in the differences between their glory in the differences between their culture and US culture.” culture and US culture.” – Is this true? What’s his evidence?Is this true? What’s his evidence?

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Robert Suro calls article “shoddy scholarship”Robert Suro calls article “shoddy scholarship”

Suro: “With the exception of the aberrational Suro: “With the exception of the aberrational period between 1924 and 1965, the US has period between 1924 and 1965, the US has always been a multicultural society…in which always been a multicultural society…in which there has always been disenfranchised people there has always been disenfranchised people such as the slave population, Native Americans, such as the slave population, Native Americans, and various immigrant groups. What Huntington and various immigrant groups. What Huntington has not taken into account is the diversity within has not taken into account is the diversity within the Latino immigrant population, not only the Latino immigrant population, not only between US-born and foreign-born but within between US-born and foreign-born but within various nationality populations and across a various nationality populations and across a broad array of other variables as well.” (pp. 26-broad array of other variables as well.” (pp. 26-27)27)

Suro notes change in how “the poor are Suro notes change in how “the poor are demonized”demonized”– earlier, as “Welfare Queens” or “cheats” to people with earlier, as “Welfare Queens” or “cheats” to people with

“too great a work ethic,” who’ll work for anything “too great a work ethic,” who’ll work for anything

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Other notes/criticismsOther notes/criticisms

Mexicans/Latinos already ARE here, Mexicans/Latinos already ARE here, the country HAS changedthe country HAS changed

Nearly half of undocumented Nearly half of undocumented population in US (45%) do not enter population in US (45%) do not enter illegally, but “overstay visas” (Pew illegally, but “overstay visas” (Pew Hispanic Ctr, 2006)Hispanic Ctr, 2006)

Continued immigration is necessary Continued immigration is necessary to replace retiring workers, to keep to replace retiring workers, to keep the workforce youngthe workforce young