Structural Assimilation, Ethnic Group Membership, and Political Participation among Japanese Americans: A Research Note

Japanese Americans differ from most other American ethnic groups by combining high levels of structural assimilation with high levels of involvement in ethnic community voluntary associations. The impact of this on political participation is examined with data from a two generation study of Japanese Americans. The analysis shows that structural assimilation and involvement in the ethnic community can provide different but complementary mechanisms to integrate individuals into conventional politics.