Mestizo Democracy: The Politics of Crossing Borders (Rio Grande Rio Bravo: Borderlands Culture and Traditions, 8)

It can come as no surprise that the ethnic makeup of the American population is rapidly changing. That there are political repercussions from these changes is also self-evident. How the changes can, must, and should alter our very understanding of democracy, though, may not be obvious. Political theorist John Burke addresses these issues by offering a "mestizo" theory of democracy and tracing its implications for public policy.?The challenge before the United States in the coming century, Burke posits, will be to articulate a politics that neither renders cultures utterly autonomous from each other nor culminates in their homogeneous assimilation. Fortuitously or ironically, the way to do this comes from the very culture that is now necessitating the change.Mestizo is a term from the Mexican socio-political experience. It means "mixture" and implies a particular kind of mixture that has resulted in a blend of indigenous, African, and Spanish genes and cultures in Latin America. This mixture is not a "melting pot" experience, where all eventually become assimilated; rather, it is a mixture in which the influences of the different cultures remain identifiable but not static. They all evolve through interaction with the others, and the resulting larger culture also evolves as the parts do. Mestizaje (the collective noun form) is thus process more than condition.?John Burke analyzes both American democratic theory and multiculturalism within political theology to develop a model for cultivating a democratic political community that can deal constructively with its cultural diversity. He applies this new model to a number of important policy issues: official language(s), voting and participation, equal employment opportunity, housing, and free trade. He then presents an intensive case study, based on a parish "multicultural committee" and choir in which he has been a participant, to show how the "engaged dialogue" of mestizaje might work and what pitfalls await it.Burke concludes that in the United States we are becoming mestizo whether we know it or not and whether we like it or not. By embracing the communitarian but non-assimilationist stance of intentional mestizaje, we can forge a future together that will be not only greater than the sum of its parts but also freer and more just than its past "Mestizo is a term from the Mexican sociopolitical experience. It means "mixture" and implies a particular kind of mixture that has resulted in a blend of indigenous, African, and Spanish genes and cultures in Latin America. This mixture is not a "melting pot" experience, where all eventually become assimilated; rather, it is a mixture in which the influences of the different cultures remain identifiable but not static. They all evolve through interaction with the others, and the resulting larger culture also evolves as the parts do. Mestizaje (the collective noun form) is thus process more than condition.". "John Burke analyzes both American democratic theory and multiculturalism within political theology to develop a model for cultivating a democratic political community that can deal constructively with its cultural diversity. He applies this new model to a number of important policy issues: official language(s), voting and participation, equal employment opportunity, housing, and free trade. He then presents an intensive case study, based on a parish "multicultural committee" and choir in which he has been a participant, to show how the "engaged dialogue" of mestizaje might work and what pitfalls await it.". "Burke concludes that in the United States we are becoming mestizo whether we know it or not and whether we like it or not. By embracing the communitarian but non-assimilationist stance of intentional mestizaje, we can forge a future together that will be not only greater than the sum of its parts but also freer and more just than its past."--BOOK JACKET. Annotation It Can Come As No Surprise That The Ethnic Makeup Of The American Population Is Rapidly Changing. In This Volume, John Francis Burke Offers A Mestizo Theory Of Democracy And Traces Its Implications For Public Policy. Mestizo, Meaning Mixture, Is A Term From The Mexican Socio-political Experience. It Represents A Blend Of Indigenous, African, And Spanish Genes And Cultures In Latin America. This Mixture Is Not A Melting Pot Experience; Rather, The Influences Of The Different Cultures Remain Identifiable But Influence Each Other In Dynamic Ways. Burke Analyzes Democratic Theory And Multiculturalism To Develop A Model For Cultivating A Community That Can Deal Effectively With Its Cultural Diversity. He Applies This Model To Official Language(s), Voting And Participation, Equal Employment Opportunity, Housing, And Free Trade. Burke Concludes That In The United States We Are Becoming Mestizo Whether We Know It Or Not And Whether We Like It Or Not. By Embracing This, We Can Forge A Future Together That Will Be Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts. Moving Beyond The Either/or Of Unum V. Pluribus -- Mestizaje As Holistic Engagement Of Multiple Cultures -- Attributes Of A Mestizo Democracy -- A Post-liberation Philosophy And Theology -- Reconciling Multiculturalism With Democracy -- Fostering Unity-in-diversity -- Crossing Borders As Public Policy. By John Francis Burke ; Foreword By Virgilio Elizondo. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [283]-293) And Index. It can come as no surprise that the ethnic makeup of the American population is rapidly changing. In this volume, John Francis Burke offers a mestizo theory of democracy and traces its implications for public policy. Mestizo, meaning "mixture," is a term from the Mexican socio-political experience that represents a blend of indigenous, African, and Spanish genes and cultures in Latin America in which the influences of these cultures remain identifiable but interact with each other in dynamic ways. Burke analyzes democratic theory and multiculturalism to develop a model for effectively dealing with cultural diversity. He applies this model to official language(s), voting, employment, housing, and free trade, concluding that in the United States we are becoming mestizo whether we like it or not.