ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF IMMIGRATION ON A STATE POLITICAL SYSTEM.

In this study we have depicted the total effect of immigration on selected political issues and behavior as a function of both the direct and indirect effects of current residents having been born outside Tennessee. Effects of migration from both inside and outside the South were computed for six policy questions dealing with the political and financial structures and morality legislation of the state, and for one electoral behavior question. The findings indicate that the movement of nonnative citizens into Tennessee has brought about a more affluent, more liberal and more Republican electorate--one more inclined to support changes in existing state system structures and morality legislation. Possibly, some of these differences are a function of the political culture of the migrants' regions of origin, which can in turn be thought of as the effects of region of origin not captured by income, party or ideology. Of course, other differences between natives and nonnatives could increase the indirect effects of migration. Three of these--race education and age--were examined to see if alternative models would increase our explanatory power. Their effects were miniscule. Population movements can have similar consequences for other state political systems. Recent population gains in the Sunbelt could conceivably lead to similar attitudinal shifts in these states. To the degree that nonnative citizens become concentrated, we might expect the election of state representatives and senators with a propensity to support public policies that differ from those normally associated with the region. In general, however, age mechanisms are not likely to channel population shifts into differences in state policy outcomes, at least in the short run. Nevertheless, as citizens from other states move into those with traditional political cultures, we might discern a more rapid nationalization of American politics than we might otherwise expect. The methodology employed in this study... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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