‘American’ is the Eye of the Beholder

Dawkins and Hanson question whether appeals to a shared American national identity actually reduce partisan animus among White Americans. They argue that the effects depend on the racialized meanings respondents attach to “American.” Their research shows three distinct patterns. First, white Republicans, on average, endorse a more nativist conception of American identity than White Democrats. Second, this partisan sorting of identity intensified during the Trump era. Third, feelings toward Trump influence shifts in nativism over time, particularly among Democrats. The authors conclude that appeals to “American identity” lower out-party antipathy only when respondents perceive the opposing party’s demographic makeup as matching their racialized prototype of a “true American.” When there is a mismatch, hostility increases.

For Tideline, the paper offers design guidance and measurement strategies: pair civic-national narratives with symbols and service experiences that make multiethnic inclusion prototypical.