Nativist Nation

This book presents nativism – the notion that foreign-born immigrants are not "real" Americans – as the leading ideological feature of American politics. Clifford Young and Kirby Goidel offer a rigorous and operational definition of nativism that, in combination with original survey data, explores public attitudes about who counts as an American.

They explain the economic, demographic, and cultural circumstances that cause this condition to break through and demonstrate its distinguishing policy preferences. Not only do the authors define the US as a Nativist Nation historically, they also show how it has profoundly affected contemporary politics.

Specifically, they look at the primary elections in 2015–2016, during which Donald Trump tapped into a wellspring of nativist sentiment and found a receptive audience thanks to bold rhetoric.

• Innovatively connects nativism to larger social and political developments
• Accessible and visually compelling
• Defines nativism as the leading ideology of US politics

Clifford Young is President of United States Public Affairs at Ipsos. He holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Chicago.

Kirby Goidel is Professor of Political Science at Texas A&M University. He holds a PhD in American Government from the University of Kentucky. He is also former Director of the Texas A&M University Public Policy Research Institute at and the Louisiana State University Public Policy Research Lab.