Hmong political participation in the United States

Literature on political participation has traditionally lacked an Asian American presence but as the Asian American population has grown, so has the literature on its political participation. This literature, however, has often targeted only the most populous ethnic groups, thereby overshadowing others. Hmong Americans, despite their increasing political presence, is one such group. This study focuses on the political participation of the Hmong population in the United States, providing an overview of the political landscape of the community and an analysis of factors that contribute to their participation. A total of 152 responses were gathered through an online survey that was disseminated on social networking websites, organization email lists, and discussion boards. The study utilizes variables from various models of political participation including the socioeconomic status model and the group conscious model. Bivariate analysis is used to identify factors that are associated with Hmong political participation in the United States. Findings from the study show that a wide range of variables contribute to an understanding of what factors influence Hmong political participation in the United States.