Project Director

Strickler, Jeremy

Department Examiner

Groh, RIta; Afzal, Hassan

Department

Dept. of Political Science, Public Administration and Nonprofit Management

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

The Stop Asian Hate Movement emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic as a pivotal moment of Asian American social resistance and activism. This study examines the movement as a form of Asian American solidarity forged through racialized crisis, assessing whether that solidarity can be translated into a sustained sense of political efficacy. It begins with a brief account of the Asian American experience, contextualizing political development and barriers to participation. The analysis then turns to the Asian American Movement (AAM) of the late 1960s and 1970s, highlighting instances of Asian social and racial resistance in the face of traditional obstacles. From these dynamics arises the central question: Can crisis-generated solidarity in the context of COVID-19 be translated into durable political efficacy for Asian Americans? To address this, the study engages with existing literature on solidarity, political efficacy, political crisis, and social movements. The analysis of the Stop Asian Hate movement identifies preceding contextual elements to assess specific mechanisms of political and social mobilization. In evaluating the potential for lasting political efficacy, the decline of the AAM is revisited to highlight key similarities, differences, and lessons that may illuminate viable paths toward enduring political empowerment for contemporary Asian Americans.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to my thesis director, Dr. Strickler, for your crucial guidance on this project. Your investment was clear from the beginning of the process and has not gone unnoticed. Thank you to my thesis committee members, Dr. Groh and Dr. Afzal, for your encouragement and feedback. Your insights helped shape my thesis into one I am proud to publish.

Degree

B. S.; An honors thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Science.

Date

5-2025

Subject

Anti-racism; Asian Americans--Political activity--United States; COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-2023--Influence; Political participation--United States; Racial justice

Keyword

Asian American; political crisis; political solidarity; COVID-19; Asian American Movement

Document Type

Theses

Extent

ii, 45 leaves

DCMI Type

Text

Language

English

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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