Italians in Politics in America. Conversations with Italian American Legislators of the State of New York

This book presents, in abridged form, approximately forty hours of video-recorded conversations with twenty elected officials of Italian origin who serve or have served in the legislative body of the State of New York. The author’s introduction outlines the study’s theoretical framework by describing four typologies that emerged from the research: the Party Champion, the Ethnic Politician, the Opinion Leader, and the Local Interest Broker. Each interview is prefaced with an explanation of how the interviewee embodies one or more of these roles. The book’s main finding is that these typologies are not unique to Italian Americans—they reflect the primary types of American politicians, regardless of ancestry. Having become an integral part of the American social fabric, the descendants of Italian immigrants have created a complex and internally diverse body politic that serves as a microcosm of American politics.