assemble evidence, then argue that their text has vindicated the theory. Researchers rarely present two or three alternative explanations and construct tests to determine which theories fit or fail to fit predictions based on the same body of data.Ethnic voting' is a persistent phenomenon in many cities and states throughout the United States. During the last two decades leading thinkers have speculated about various explanations for the existence of ethnic solidarity at the polls. Because they have argued in terms of single ideologically derived theories more than on the basis of data, the result is continuing theoretical dissensus.The purpose of this paper is to establish a framework for the comparative study of ethnic politics. Theories of the political behavior of ethnic groups will be reviewed first. A propositional summary will then demonstrate how empirical data can be used to test theories of race and politics on a comparative basis, followed by an analysis of ethnic politics in the state politics of Hawaii.
THEORIES OF ETHNIC POLITICSTheories of ethnic politics have variously been descriptive, prescriptive, or a combination of the two; the distinction between scentific theories and ideological action programs needs to be clarified. One prominent descriptive explanation of ethnic politics in state and local communities of the United States, as developed by such scholars as Oscar Handlin (1961), is a scientific theory of coalition-building. As each new immigrant group arrived, political leaders of the gateway cities endeavored to capture the votes of the immigrant groups; nativist Yankee groups responded by setting up their own political organizations. The basis for the recruitment of new immigrant groups by leaders of political parties was votes; the motivation of immigrants to support the various political machines was economica desire for economic opportunity and employment, which could be provided when those in office facilitated license-granting and other particularistic rewards. Empirical support for coalition-building theory consists of case