In recent years, the United States has witnessed a resurgence in mainstream acceptance of overt, racist rhetoric from politicians. This increased tolerance arises despite previous evidence suggesting that white Americans reject racist appeals when they are explicit. Destabilized examines this shift and points to a perception of threat to white dominance as the root cause. The book finds that when white Americans feel their dominance in the racial hierarchy is unstable, their prejudice activates, and they seek to 'restabilize' the racial hierarchy by accepting negative, explicit racial appeals. Analyses of survey experiments, observational survey data, and political media demonstrate this phenomenon. Finding that this link exists among both white Republicans and white Democrats, Destabilized speaks broadly to the nature of whiteness as a racial identity rooted in the desire for dominance.

‘In Destabilized, Christiani argues that Whites become more tolerant of negative racial appeals when confronted with the prospect of losing their dominant status in the racial hierarchy. Her evidence is simultaneously compelling and sobering. I learned a lot reading this important and timely book.’

Vincent L. Hutching - Diversity and Social Transformation Professor, University of Michigan

‘Destabilized offers a powerful account of why explicit racial appeals have gained renewed acceptance in contemporary politics. Advancing a powerful theory of dominance destabilization, Christiani demonstrates how perceived threats to racial hierarchy reshape political norms and enable overt racial rhetoric. This book is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the current political moment-one in which explicit racial rhetoric not only persists but often does so without consequence.’

LaFleur Stephens-Dougan - Associate Professor of Politics, Princeton University