Information Brokers - (Chicago Studies in American Politics) by Roberto F Carlos (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

An insightful rethinking of political socialization within Latino immigrant households.

Conventional wisdom tells us that children are passive recipients of political lessons from their parents, with caregivers being the ones who mold the developing behavior and beliefs of the children under their roof. Roberto F. Carlos challenges this preconception by revealing how Latino children, especially those with immigrant parents, often become key sources of political information and guidance in their families. As migrant parents navigate unfamiliar institutions and customs in the United States, they often turn to their children to broker information about everything from daily life to civic engagement. These roles not only place unique responsibilities on children but also create new pathways for them to shape the political behavior of their parents. Moreover, by taking on these roles, children learn the skills that can make them effective advocates later in life, even as they face resource disadvantages that normally correlate with reduced political participation and sense of political efficacy.

Drawing on six original surveys, multiple experiments, and in-depth interviews, including the accounts of youth helping protect their families from deportation, InformationBrokers shows how these dynamics influence both immigrant parents and their children in politically consequential ways. With the Latino population now over 64 million, Information Brokers offers vital insight into the political incorporation of America's largest ethnic group.

Review Quotes

"Carlos argues that the socialization processes of children of immigrants in Latinx families will be different from that assumed by traditional family socialization theories, given that immigrant parents may not have the same experience and familiarity with US politics as non-immigrant parents. This book is important as it is the most in-depth exploration of information brokering and political participation to date, filling a gap in the field--especially for political scientists."

--Janelle Wong author of "Immigrants, Evangelicals, and Politics in an Era of Demographic Change"

"Carlos seeks to turn the narrative of political socialization on its head. Carlos argues that because immigrant children are thrust early on into roles as translators and spokespersons for their parents they both learn skills and acquire the motivation to become more engaged in civic and political life, facilitating their parents' engagement in politics as well. The result is a theoretically important, robust work grounded in a wide range of careful, multi-method sources."

--Michael Jones-Correa coauthor of "Holding Fast: Resilience and Civic Engagement Among Latino Immigrants"

"Roberto Carlos masterfully unearths a long-concealed truth about immigrant political incorporation. The rupture of migration across borders, cultures, languages, civic norms can upend traditional family relations, where the child becomes the parent and helps their elders learn the rules of the game in their new home country. Carlos shows the political impact of this 'information brokering' role in Latino immigrant families, unlocking along the way a key piece to the puzzle of Latino 'underparticipation' in electoral politics. This is a bravura debut from an important new voice in political science."

--Taeku Lee Harvard University

About the Author

Roberto F. Carlos is an assistant professor of political science at the University of Michigan. His research focuses on the Latino immigrant experience. He has published in the American Political Science Review, Political Behavior, and the Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Politics, among others.