University of Texas at Austin Sociology Department
Day Two Comprehensive (Comps) Exams 2014-2015
Race and Ethnicity (Race, The State and Immigration)
You have four hours within which to answer two questions from the list of six below. Write out the
question and the number at the start of each answer.
1. Critically discuss how immigration policies enacted by the state do or do not have differential effects
for immigrant groups, which may differ by race, ethnicity, gender, national origin, sexuality, etc. If you
argue that immigration policies have biases against some groups but not other groups, provide examples
and illustrations to support your argument. In addition, explain or theorize about the nature of the bias,
that is, what social practice or condition do the biased policies support or promote, and explain or theorize
what is the end goal of the state in pursuing biased immigration policies. If you argue that immigration
policies tend to be unbiased, then explain or theorize how immigrant differential outcomes (such as in
legal status, economic conditions, etc.) can be explained by factors outside of the state sector. Develop
your essay from the perspective of two or three immigration policies or enforcement measures, in a
country or countries of your choice, affecting at least two groups that differ by race, ethnicity, gender,
sexuality, or by some other group defining condition.
2. Most, or all, national governments restrict their generosity in granting asylum to refugees and asylum
seekers. For example, this can be observed in the United States and European countries. Rarely, if ever,
have national governments advertised a desire to generously grant asylum to victims of forced migration.
Using cases, examples, and illustrations from the research literature, discuss the factors that influence
governments to limit the granting of asylum to victims of forced migration. In your discussion, elaborate
both on the factors that have to do with characteristics of the groups seeking asylum and the factors that
have to do with predispositions of the state. Include, if relevant, a discussion of actions (agency)
undertaken by forced migrants to struggle against the asylum limitations of the state. You may ground
your discussion on at least two different group experiences in one or more countries of your choice
3. “The border” is frequently the site for, and focus of, contentious political debates over national identity
and the security of the state. How has the border (as concept) been theorized by sociological and political
theorists and how do these accounts help us to understand government policies on immigration. Illustrate
your answer by comparing two nation states.
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4. It is often claimed by politicians in Europe, that Europe’s asylum screening process is too lenient and
further that the well developed welfare state system in many European countries results in large numbers
of people seek asylum in Europe who are really economic migrants. Critically assess the factual
accuracy, and the assumptions that lie behind, these claims. Answer this question using relevant findings
from the sociological literature on “asylum seekers”.
5. How does the state shape racial classifications and racial inequality in contemporary Brazil? How do
actors outside the state (i.e. social movements) contest racial classification and racial inequality?
6. The Brazilian state has been described as both embodying and promoting a “racial democracy” and as
enacting forms of “anti-black genocide”. Provide a socio-historical analysis of (a) the emergence of the
idea that Brazil is a racial democracy and (b) the key arguments of those who claim that the Brazilian
state engages in genocidal practices against black populations. Drawing on the relevant literatures and
specific empirical and demographic data, outline how you would characterize the nature of racial politics
as it intersects with State practices in Brazil.
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