Study Significance
The article examines a potentially important feedback between two major trends—declining labor unions and rising white identity politics—by testing whether union membership influences white racial attitudes, which could affect broader political behavior and policy preferences.
Data Sources and Attitude Measurement
The authors analyze multiple nationally sourced datasets: cross-sectional CCES and ANES data for policy attitudes, and panel datasets (CCES panel and VSG panel) covering 2010–2016 to track changes in individual respondents; racial resentment and support for policies benefiting African Americans are the primary attitude outcomes, and union membership is recorded as respondent-level membership status.
Comparisons and Research Design
The study reports both cross-sectional comparisons (contrasting white union members versus nonmembers on racial resentment and policy support) and panel analyses that compare the same white individuals over time, specifically examining people who gained union membership between 2010 and 2016 versus those who did not.
Main Findings on Union Membership and Racial Attitudes
Cross-sectional analyses show that white union members report lower racial resentment and greater support for policies that benefit African Americans, and panel analyses indicate that gaining union membership between 2010 and 2016 is associated with reductions in racial resentment among white workers.
Interpretation and Broader Implications
The authors interpret the results as evidence that organizational membership—specifically unions—can reduce racial resentment and shape political attitudes, highlighting unions' continuing importance for mass politics beyond economic representation.
