Graduation Date
1980
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Other
Committee Chair Name
Dr. Samuel P. Oliner
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dr. Paul V. Crosbie
Third Committee Member Name
Dr. James W. Carroll
Keywords
Art
Subject Categories
Art
Abstract
Minorities have evolved through wars of conquest, peace treaties, acts of violence, peaceful migrations and religious conversions. "The genesis of minorities must therefore be sought in the fact that territory, political authority, people, and culture only rarely coincide" (Wirth in Wagley and Harris, 1958:365). The type of minorityhood which is the topic of this paper is one which is closely akin to the concept of pariah people—people on the move who become minorities in their new social environment, yet adapt and prosper (if they survive) often surpassing a variety of other ethnic minorities in the society to which they have moved. One of the most prominent characteristics of groups identified with this vaguely defined form of ethnic relations is their apparent ability to move into middlelevel economic functions. Extremes in hostility from the host society is another noted feature of this minority form. There have been numerous sociological explanations for the position which these "more fortunate" ethnic groups occupy in the social structure of their host societies. A specific theory was advanced by Edna Bonacich in 1973 to explain the dynamics and persistence of the socalled "middleman minority" form. The basic operating principle in her theory of the dynamics of "middleman minorities" is a sojourning orientation. This thesis includes an analysis of the Bonacich theory as well as the results of an empirical test of the model. In order to analyze the "middleman minority model," a wide range of materials were studied so that conclusions could be drawn on the potential and limitations of the Bonacich theory. The roots of the terminology of "middleman minority" as it developed through time was explored. The explanations for the creation of such a "form" of ethnic relations were examined. Relationships between this "form" of ethnic relations and other "forms" of ethnic relations were scrutinized. In addition, theory going beyond ethnic issues to the broader context of "stratification" including the dimensions of pluralism were studied. A study of the theory of theory was also pursued to get a better perspective on the potential and limitations of "A Theory of Middleman Minorities" (Bonacich, 1973). In addition to using library references manually, computer-designed searches were used and the topics and sub-topics of the computer-assisted approach are included in Appendix A. Interwoven with this study of theory, methodology, and ethnic theory, was a study of the specific empirical examples of minorities functioning within specific social settings. Several peripheral areas, too numerous to mention, were examined including readings in economics, history, political science, and anthropology to provide the broad background needed for a project of this type. finally, the results of an empirical test of the "middleman model" were analyzed. The primary factors which motivated the analysis of the middleman minority model will help the reader identify the broader goals framing this work as well as partially identify the writer’s position. A comparative ethnic relations course was the stimulus for this project: During an earlier longitudinal study of the relationship of the Chinese minority to the larger Philippine society (Russell, 1976), theoretical frames were sought which would organize the vast amount of data and guide the research toward predictions vis-a-vis the consequences for the minority in the future. The result of the search for theory was a meager array of various types and levels of "theory" and several typologies. Although there were numerous descriptive studies of ethnic groups, they were largely a-theoretical. There were few empirical studies testing hypotheses unless interest was in psychological explanations, and there was a pronounced disagreement over terminology. Discovery of the "middleman minority" model (Bonacich, 1973) provided one tool to use as a basis for some degree of systematic analysis in determining the likelihood of various future outcomes for the Chinese in the Philippines. Many factors had influenced antagonism toward the Chinese in the Philippines in their role as a "middleman minority." Yet, the relative importance of the various factors could not be determined, nor reliable predictions made for future occurrences. Among the elements of influence had been the Chinese monopoly of certain trades, Chinese family solidarity, some inter-marriage and acculturation. Spanish and then American colonial relations, and even the strength and position of China toward citizens abroad were factors which emerged. Additionally, the level of economic development of the Philippines, Philippine nationalism and the Chinese immigrants’ long history as a visible scapegoat as well as the association of the Chinese with a specific nation and ideology were further factors. Since the middleman minority model was useful for the descriptive, ex-post-facto analysis, its potential as a basis for future hypothesis-testing research was raised.
Recommended Citation
Russell, Dorlene C., "Limitations of the Middleman Minority Model of Ethnic Enterprise" (1980). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2362.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2362