Roberto Carlos explores Latinx political behavior and Family learning in Michigan

Good Authority editor Nadia E. Brown interviewed Roberto Carlos, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Michigan, about Latinx political behavior, immigration, and political socialization. Carlos notes that Latinx politics research has evolved since 2012, with surveys and qualitative work expanding understanding of political engagement beyond voting.

Carlos highlights the 2006 Latino National Survey as a pivotal data source that opened the floodgates for scholars. He explains that survey research has become central, alongside qualitative studies, allowing scholars to examine political engagement beyond income and education, and to focus on psychology, identity, group norms, acculturation, and assimilation. He also notes that Latinx communities are not homogeneous, and that understanding co‑ethnic solidarity requires close examination of people’s experiences.

Carlos’s book, Information Brokers, explores how children of Latino immigrants act as information brokers, helping parents navigate American institutions and engage politically. He argues that family discussions and shared knowledge shape political learning, and that children’s agency has been overlooked. He draws on Michigan School approaches to political socialization and emphasizes the importance of learning within households for political participation.

Read the full story at goodauthority.org.