Caliendo publishes article in American Behavioral Scientist journal

Stephen Maynard Caliendo, North Central College professor of political science, Ruge Fellow and chair of the Division of Human Thought and Behavior, and Charlton McIlwain, associate professor of media, culture and communication at New York University, wrote an article titled “Mitt Romney’s Racist Appeals: How Race Was Played in the 2012 Presidential Election.” It was published in the Sage publication American Behavioral Scientist (ABS), Nov. 4, 2013.

Their article identified a marked difference in the type of race-based appeals that dominated President Barack Obama’s reelection contest in 2012 from his inaugural campaign in 2008. Racist appeals by Romney and the right in 2012 supplanted the racial appeals by Obama and the left in 2008. The authors focused their attention on a particularly salient form of racist appeal, one based on the long-standing stereotypes of black laziness and taking advantage. Specifically, they outlined the historical underpinnings of these stereotypes.

Published 14 times a year, ABS is a peer-reviewed resource for scholars, researchers, professionals and students, with in-depth perspectives on contemporary topics throughout the social and behavioral sciences.

Caliendo joined North Central’s faculty in 2005. He earned his B.A. from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Purdue University.