The Politics of School Busing

In: Public opinion quarterly: journal of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, Band 38, Heft 1, S. 23-39

Abstract

Although rejecting school busing has the objective consequence of perpetuating racial segregation & educational inequality, data from a large national sample (the National Opinion Research Center's 1972 General Social Survey) indicate that subjective motivations involved are not merely racism. Except among Coll graduates, opposition is not closely correlated with racism & is quite differently related to background, to SS, & to conservative views on other political & social issues. The widespread opposition to busing & the success of politicians opposed to it are not evidence either for a white backlash or for a reversal of the historic trend toward racial equality. In contrast to the position among the mass public, opposition is closely linked to racial prejudice among Coll graduates, an elite which largely defines the terms of public debate. On busing, the elite & the mass public are simply talking past one another. 4 Tables. AA.