Obstacles To Chinese Americans' Participation In The U.S. Politics: 1965-2008

Affected by the Civil Rights Movement in 1960s, the Chinese Americans' participation in the U.S.Politics has been getting more and more advanced and rational, especially after the US reformed its Immigration Act in 1965. There are five main approaches for the Chinese Americans to participate in the U.S.politics from 1965 to 2008, including:participating in the Electoral Registration and Vote, running for U.S. Congressman and the Government Public Service Positions, striving for Political Appointments, donating for Politics and organizing Political Communities. However, restricted by some factors in the area of economy, society and political culture, the Chinese Americans'participation in the U.S.Politics is uneven, the Chinese Americans'political influence can't correspond with their economic power. There are two economic factors, the money-oriented politics in the U.S.and the limited political influence of the Chinese Americans'economic power, which are restricting the Chinese Americans'participation in the U.S.Politics. In addition to the above factors, there are five social obstacles to the Chinese Americans'participation in the U.S.Politics, that is, the severe polarization, the serious "internal friction", the technology deviation in the Chinese Americans'education, the Chinese Americans' scant development in the Chinatown and the imposed name "model minority" from other Americans. Distinguished from the main American political culture, the Chinese Americans'own political culture tradition, their special religious culture and the ingrained racial discrimination in America are the political culture obstacles to the Chinese Americans'participation in the U.S.Politics. It has been confirmed by the history and reality that the Chinese Americans'participation in the U.S. Politics is a natural process integrating into the American mainstream society, which is rooted in the development of American society deeply. In the future, it still need a very long and complicated way to get a further development.