Leiden University Student Repository

Hof, Lian (2019)

Overcoming Race: Obama's Mixed Burden

Bachelor thesis | International Studies (BA)

This thesis is looking to examine the role of race in politics by looking at the 2008 presidential campaign, from the moment Obama announced his candidacy in February 2007 to the election night in 2008. The focus of the racial discourse lies in this period of Obama’s campaign, ending on election night. As the concept of new race politics was coined after the win, we will evaluate its effects during the campaign. By focusing solely on the campaigning period, an analysis can be made on how the candidacy was influenced by race and by extension how the perception of the role of race in politics changed. Ultimately, the question that this research is looking to answer is: “To what extent has Barack Obama’s presidential election in 2008 led to a change in perception of the role of race?”

United States

Race

Obama

Author

Hof, Lian

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

International Studies

Supervisors

Santino Regilme, Salvador

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en