Publication Date

8-2011

Description

Several normative political theorists argue for racially descriptive representation, or for blacks to represent blacks. I contend that if theorists believe that blacks deserve additional measures to improve their substantive political representation, then they should prioritize the creation of racial constituencies independently of whether such constituencies elect black representatives. Prioritizing racial constituency circumvents essentialism within descriptive representation and better reflects the role of electoral authorization and accountability in generating trust between representatives and constituents. As a result, descriptive representation becomes one of several criteria (along with other identity markers, ideological proximity, and general competence and trustworthiness) to be applied by a racial constituency in selecting a preferable representative. Ultimately, prioritizing racial constituency allows normative theorists to affirm, without philosophical contradiction, the existence of black districts that elect nonblack representatives; contain black ideological minorities; exhibit diverse political interests; reflect shifting electoral constituencies; and elect representatives with divergent representational styles.

Journal

Journal of Politics

Volume

73

Issue

3

First Page

899

Last Page

914

Department

Political Science

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