Protecting White Interests: A Case Example of Interest Convergence in Policymaking

Abstract

Although various policy analysis frameworks exist within the social work literature, fewspecifically address the racism inherent to policymaking processes. We propose interestconvergence as a conceptual lens for policy analysis to expose the racism inherent inpolicymaking. Transcripts from 19 public hearings of five bills sponsored during the 2017Nevada legislative session were included in the data analysis for this study. A thematic analysistook place at the latent level to identify underlying concepts, assumptions, and ideas within thedata (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Results indicate that the public testimony process and ultimateoutcomes of public policy making protect white interests which sustains structural racism. Inunderstanding the dynamics of interest convergence in policymaking, social work educators,policy advocates, and macro-practitioners would be better equipped to impact the policymakingprocesses focused on racial equity.