Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Date of Degree

6-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Program

Political Science

Advisor

Keena Lipsitz

Subject Categories

American Politics | Near and Middle Eastern Studies | Other Political Science | Race and Ethnicity

Keywords

Orientalism, Racialization, Middle Eastern and North African, United States Census, War on Terror

Abstract

This thesis delves into the recent decision by the U.S. Executive’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to revise the statistical categorization of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) individuals within federal statistical collection, particularly focusing on the U.S. Decennial Census’ racial and ethnic classifications as outlined in the OMB’s Statistical Policy Directive no. 15. Historically classified solely as racially White, the MENA diaspora’s statistical invisibility within federal data has significant impacts on policy eligibility and access to legal protections, contributing to their social erasure from the national identity. Through a comprehensive analysis of racialization and Orientalism scholarship, alongside an examination of census enumeration history, this research explores the alienation of the MENA diaspora from the American national identity and potential obstacles to their enumeration.

Drawing upon theories of post-9/11 racialization and state enumeration processes, this study identifies 9/11 and the subsequent war on terror as pivotal moments that ushered the racialized MENA identity into public, media, and political focus. I argue that the solidification of post-9/11 MENA racialization through discourse and state-sponsored surveillance, has converged with an increase in state interest in the diaspora, leading to the enumeration of MENA identity in 2024.

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