The Economics and Politics of Race: An International Perspective

326 Pages·1985·3.92 MB·English

by  Thomas Sowell

ECONOMICS
POLITICS
RACE

THOMAS SOWELL
author of. Ethnic America
he
Economics
and Politics
of Race
Beas by Pama Soll ota:

MARXISM: Philosophy ond Economics
CIVIL RIGHTS: Rhetoric of Reslicy?
ETHNIC AMERICA,
The
Economics
and Politics
of Race

AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Thomas Sowell

New York
ih 882 Me

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PREFACE

‘An international perspective un race and edhmicity means much
‘more than a compilation of minority experiences in diferent coun-
cies tmeans an opporconty wo test competing beliefsand theories
in a way chat cannot be done in any given countey For exaraple
How much of any mvinoriey group's economic state lepers upon
theie own culture and how much upon the way they are treated by
the larger society around them? While there are ways of trying (0
puzale this out far a given couney,' current group characteristics
‘an themselves be depicted as products of “society in the past
leaving us wich 9 chickeo-and-ege dilew

‘Aa intecaational perspective permits an examination of a given
racial or ethnic group in a wide variety of sbrietes—Germans in
ral, Ausealis, and the Uoived Suates, Chinese in Hong Keng,
Indonesia, and the Cacihhean; Jeas in Spain, Jean, and eastern
acope. Hf acter sche dominanc mfiuence, we would expectan see
fewer scilarities between Bratilim Germs aad Austealian Ger
mans than ifthe German cultural imprint cemains strong wherever
Germans serle ia the soda

Moreuver, international perspective makes possible a closer
look atthe vague and ambiguous concept, “sociery.” Ist or the
enviroment wheee penple are cuteently living? Or docs ic include
their ancesteal lands. or perhaps ocher lands where chey may have
secled for centuries in between—as i the ease of ethnically Chi
tuete refugees from Vietoum aow living in the Cnited Staves, of

the wandering Jew” in a variery of eoumeies aves the conuries?
@ || paerace

‘Once environmental explanations of group behavior begin 10
take on this expansive concepr of "sociegy,” then che novion of a
siven country's causal or moral responsibility for current conditions
is correspandingly changed. If the econcsnec performance of the
Chinese greatly exceeds that ofthe Malays in 8 umber of countries
Gaclulioge Malaysia), then 19 what extene should a given socicey
Consider icelfrexponsible for thove wtisticallifferences between
thew (often described as “disparities” or "inequities"? Ifthe peo-
ple of Japan economically utperform the people of Mexivo, 10
swhar extent are income diferences herweea the Japanese and the
Mexicans in California 2 product of American society?

‘The rudy of ecraomics and politics together likewise provides
ore insighey tn considering thew separately. The opetation of
the markerplace often produces a very diferent reality fom che
pesceptions conveyed rhrough the politcal process. The marker
‘may say chat a given group's skills are valuable bene cathe larger
society while politics is eondemning hem as parasitic Bloodsuckers.
Nos isi possible ro escape chese ennflicing conclusions by saying
thar itis alla matter of how you choose Io Took at it. There are
conceete empirical differences ia what folloss ifthe group is ex
pelled—as has happened to varions groups many times in history
Expelling a parasite produces vary diferear effects an the rest of
society than expelling a vital parc af the economy. Ac many mes
and places in hisery, nacions have acted poliically as if ehey were
doing one of these things, only o discuver laer evonomically at
they were doing the opposite

Nowhecu is man's inhumanity 1o man more tangible or more
beattbreaking than in racial or ethnic differences, Ieis tempting tn
dlimiss ell a mete asrannealy. Yor oven insanity musc be studied
logically, if iis w be understood and effective policies followed
Even if we da nos lly undeestand the undesiyng sources of group
fiicrions and hateeds, we may navercheless gain some insight inn
what kinds of social arrangements reduce or increase diserimina-
tion, violence and other aver: expressions of holt.

‘We need to examine aot anly the facts bur also the conceptual
framework within which we look ar facs. We need w reconnder
ro what exten reeme like “acism,” “exploitation,” or the ""Thied
World” are both clear and useful

‘This book has benefited from a variety of influences. The re
sources and freedora provided by the Houver Institution has per-
pReraceE 9

mitted mem take up this ropic and explore it at leisure, even
thavgl Feame here with the intention of writing on an entirely
different subject (Marsan economics). My colleague Alvin Ka
bushika bas been preeminent among those who have generously
siven of their kegwleeye, advice, and other help. Tt should be
Uuwecessary 0 add that they share'no responsibilty for my errors,
shoetcamings, or conelosions

‘The Hoover lonitution
‘August 19, 1982