Latinos and the U.S. Political System: Two-Tiered Pluralism by Rodney E. Hero

Bringing together political science research on Latinos and an analysis of American politics from the vantage point of the Latino political condition, Rodney E. Hero presents a comprehensive discussion of contemporary Latino politics. He points out that "the 'distinct' and 'tenuous' nature of Latino status in the United States has made it difficult to develop explanatory frameworks appropriate to their unique status." This "uniqueness" stems from a variety of circumstances, including the differences among Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Cubans, and their ambivalent racial classification (white but not "Anglo," or nonwhite but not black). Introducing the concept of a "two-tiered pluralism," Hero offers a distinct interpretation of Latino politics.