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The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science
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Perceptions of Criminal Injustice, Symbolic Racism, and Racial Politics

Ross L. Matsueda

Center for Statistics and the Social Sciences at the University of Washington

Kevin Drakulich

University of Washington

This article examines the relationships between perceptions of criminal injustice, symbolic racism, and political outcomes. Building on a group conflict theory of social control and a group position theory of contemporary racism, the authors hypothesize that perceptions of criminal injustice against blacks undermines the legitimacy of social institutions, such as free markets and the legal system, and encourages support for progressive programs, such as affirmative action, to ameliorate the effects of racial discrimination. The authors further hypothesize that perceptions of criminal injustice undermine support for these progressive programs by fostering symbolic racist attitudes. Using data from the American National Election Studies, the authors find preliminary evidence for this perspective. Perceived police racial bias is negatively associated with symbolic racism, which, in turn, is negatively associated with affirmative action, equal opportunity policy, and government action to ensure equal opportunity and positively associated with support for the death penalty and crime spending.

Key Words: perceived criminal injustice • racism • laissez-faire racism • symbolic racism • racial politics • affirmative action

The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 623, No. 1, 163-178 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0002716208330500
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