The research questions in this dissertation are: does ethnicity persist in affecting political behavior in urban areas; and, do urban ethnic groups have an impact upon urban public policy? These questions were tested in a crucial case study of Cuban ethnics in Miami, Florida. To investigate ethnic political behavior, voting patterns for all Cuban candidates over the thirty year period from 1955 until 1985 were examined. The ethnic impact upon urban policy was studied through voting on referenda and bond issues over the same period and through examination of budgetary data from 1937 until 1985. / The research results indicate that ethnicity did persist in ethnic voting patterns over time. Ethnics supported their fellows over time as long as the candidates were deemed credible. The type of candidate supported did change, however. As the ethnic group assimilated, the candidates supported were those who were most assimilated. In these elections, Cuban turnout patterns exceeded those of black and native American voters in Miami. / Cuban ethnics behaved according to their class status when voting on most policy issues. Ethnicity had a significant negative influence on patterns of voting on most bond issues and referenda; class status for all Miami voters exhibited the same negative pattern. The exceptions to this pattern of ethnic voting were those issues which specifically pertained to Cuban ethnicity. On those issues, ethnicity had a significant positive influence. Ethnicity did not seem to influence urban expenditure levels. / Ethnicity was a significant factor in determining Cuban political behavior. Reinforcing the strength of this influence over time was the strong middle class status of the Cuban community in Miami. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-03, Section: A, page: 0739. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1987.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_76078 |
| Contributors | STOWERS, GENIE N. L., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 321 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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