Minority policy gains depend on coalition dominance, not mere representation

Evidence

The key to higher levels of responsiveness was not representation but coalition: minority inclusion in a coalition that was able to dominate a city council produced a much more positive government response than the election of minority council members who were not part of the dominant coalition. (Browning et al., 1986:576) They also point out that white support for minority incorporation was not a matter of benign altruism because the existence of these coalitions depended on the support of black and Hispanic politicians. — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 2156 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

In this case, as in many others, the status quo survived blow after blow for two related reasons. Despite the militancy of certain groups, the immigration issue was not yet deeply felt throughout the country as a whole. Restriction sentiment, though general, was not generally intense; a substantial part of the American population seemed to regard the question as one of secondary importance. And in the absence of an imperious, nation-wide clamor, strategically situated minorities could prevent either of the major political parties from committing itself resolutely on the issue. — John Higham, Strangers in the Land, 1109 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Because of its consensus requirements, the UN is incapable of breaking the stranglehold of the population taboo. In an ironic twist, the Vatican wields stronger influence in blocking the UN from supporting voluntary family planning services for women worldwide than it does for its own followers. — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 2595 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Marginal groups gain a political will only through representation itself — Ernesto Laclau, On Populist Reason, 313; Effective minority influence requires coalition dominance, not representation alone — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 2156; Negational identity can build coalitions across minority groups by de-emphasizing in-group. — Chen-Bo Zhong, Adam D. Galinsky, and Miguel M. Unzueta, Negational racial identity and…, 47 (+5 more)

Broader Connections

• Effective minority influence requires coalition dominance, not representation alone #corroborates (0.97) — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 2156
• Broad but shallow public sentiment lets well-placed minorities block national policy change #complicates (0.76) — John Higham, Strangers in the Land, 1109
• Consensus-based institutions let a minority block majority-supported policy. #complicates (0.75) — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 2595
• Ideological proximity could hinder rather than help coalition formation #complicates (0.74) — Anna M. Grzymala-Busse, Redeeming The Communist Past, 1244