Abstract
This paper distinguishes two ideal-type membership criteria: a legal-constitutional criterion, under which membership is determined by U.S. citizenship; and a social-recognition criterion, under which belonging is attributed through culturally mediated in-group acceptance. Drawing on constitutional political economy, legal philosophy, and the sociology of ethnic boundaries, the paper formalizes heterogeneous voters who evaluate institutions using different membership criteria, derives a polarization threshold, and develops a distinct analysis of Indigenous membership.
Publication status
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