The Nature of Ethnic
Relations
Units 2 & 3
Some Basic Concepts
Stratification: Power and Inequality
Prejudice and Discrimination
Assimilation and Pluralism
American Demography and Immigration
Some Basic Concepts
4 Key Questions
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What is the nature of inter-group relations in
multiethnic societies?
How are the various ethnic groups ranked and
what are consequences of that ranking system?
How does the dominant group maintain its place
and how do subordinate groups attempt to change
that?
What are the long-range outcomes of ethnic interrelations?
Some Basic Concepts
Ethnic Groups
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Unique cultural Traits
Sense of Community
Ethnocentrism
Ascribed Membership
Territoriality
Some Basic Concepts
Race
As a Biological Notion
 As a Social Construct
 In the Ideology of Racism
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Ethnic Stratification
Dominant Groups
Political, Economic, and Cultural Dominance
Middleman Minorities
Minority Groups
Differential Treatment
Social Definition
Differential Power
Categorical Nature
Sociological and Numerical Meanings
Ethnic Stratification
Forms of Contact
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Conquest
Annexation
Voluntary Immigration
Involuntary Immigration
Ethnic Stratification
Outcomes of Contact
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Lieberson’s Model:
migrant superordination
indigenous superordination
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Noel’s Model:
nature or initial contact
ethnocentrism
competition for scarce societal resources
unequal distribution of power
Ethnic Stratification
Minority Responses to Subordination
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Pluralistic Minorities
Assimilationist Minorities
Secessionist Minorities
Militant Minorities
Prejudice and Discrimination
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Prejudice
Stereotypes
Social Distance
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Discrimination
Individual
Institutional
Structural
Prejudice and Discrimination
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Psychological Theories
frustration-aggression
authoritarian personality
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Normative Theories
socialization
reference groups
Merton’s Paradigm
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Power-Conflict Theories
economic gain
Marxian Theory
split labor-market theory
political gain