Majority Minority

by Justin Gest

"A treasure trove" -- Thomas B. Edsall, The New York Times

"Trenchant and groundbreaking work" -- Molly Ball, TIME Magazine

"A joy to read. . . A tour de force" -- Eric Kaufmann, University of London

How do societies respond to great demographic change? This question lingers over the contemporary politics of the United States and other countries where persistent immigration has altered populations and may soon produce a majority minority milestone, where the original ethnic or religious majority
loses its numerical advantage to one or more foreign-origin minority groups. Until now, most of our knowledge about largescale responses to demographic change has been based on studies of individual people's reactions, which tend to be instinctively defensive and intolerant. We know little about why
and how these habits are sometimes tempered to promote more successful coexistence.

To anticipate and inform future responses to demographic change, Justin Gest looks to the past. In Majority Minority, Gest includes historical analysis and interview-based fieldwork inside six of the world's few societies that have already experienced a majority minority transition to understand
what factors produce different social outcomes. Gest concludes that, rather than yield to people's prejudices, states hold great power to shape public responses and perceptions of demographic change through political institutions and the rhetoric of leaders. Through subsequent survey research, Gest
also identifies novel ways that leaders can leverage nationalist sentiment to reduce the appeal of nativism--by framing immigration and demographic change in terms of the national interest. Grounded in rich narratives and novel survey findings, Majority Minority reveals that this contentious
milestone and its accompanying identity politics are ultimately subject to unifying or divisive governance.

Genres: Politics, History, Sociology, Nonfiction

424 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2022

Reviews

[Lukas Kilimann · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is widely anticipated that the United States will become a majority minority nation by the year 2044. The author, Justin Gest, looks at how the United States is/has/will respond to these demographic changes. A very interesting read, with some moments of scholarly research (sorry if you’re not into that). What I did not expect from this book was a thoughtful discussion of racial and political divisions in the United States which is where Gest ultimately takes his readers. For chapters 10-13 alone I recommend reading this book because it is jam packed with insightful questions and helpful context for this current political moment. Let me know if you end up reading it because I would love to discuss some of the questions he poses!

[Cynthia Chiang · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was given to me by a friend who is a grad student in American Studies. It's not my usual reading fare, as it is kind of scholarly, but it was easy to read and without jargon. The professor studies societies like Hawaii and Trinidad/Tobago and Singapore (even my home of New York City!) where the minority eventually becomes the numeric majority and how theses societies cope. It's a very intelligent look at a topic that has some people hoping for a great future for the USA and others terrified and angry. I vote with the optimistic group, and I think the author shows how a good outcome is possible, maybe even probable.

[Matt Sautman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Majority Minority is a thought-provoking investigation of what happens in countries where a population previously regarded as a minority achieves majority status. Justin Gest does a phenomenal job extrapolating the range of possible responses that contextualizes the reality of population shifts beyond partisan rhetoric.

[Antonietta tesfaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting breakdown of basically people being people and pinning themselves against each other to make themselves more superior. It’s because of them that I’m not successful. That mentality throughout the ages. They forget the struggles that they all came from in order to supersede their superiority to the upcoming.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yet another work to make us anxious about the "others" in our lives.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very dense and not in a good way. Could be 30% more concise. Interesting points but the ideas leave much to be desired.