About the Book
Information Brokers challenges conventional theories of political socialization by showing that children in Latino immigrant households are not merely passive recipients of political attitudes. Instead, they often act as central sources of political and civic information for their parents—helping families navigate unfamiliar institutions, policies, and civic norms in the United States.
Drawing on six original surveys, survey experiments, and in-depth interviews, the book documents how youth assist parents with tasks ranging from interpreting election information to navigating immigration enforcement threats. These experiences, in turn, shape children’s own political development and sense of civic responsibility.
Why This Book Matters
• Reframes political socialization by centering child-to-parent influence
• Offers rare experimental and survey evidence from immigrant families
• Illuminates how civic inequality shapes family-level political learning
• Speaks to debates on immigration, political incorporation, and democracy
• Relevant to scholars, educators, policymakers, and advocates
Data and Evidence
The book draws on six original data collections, including large-scale surveys, survey experiments, and qualitative interviews with Latino immigrant families across multiple U.S. contexts. Together, these data illuminate how information flows within families under conditions of institutional uncertainty and unequal access to political knowledge.
Book Details
Author: Roberto F. Carlos
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Series: Chicago Studies in American Politics
Publication Date: 2026 (forthcoming)
Format: Paperback, Hardcover and eBook
Praise & Media
Advance praise, reviews, and media coverage will be added here as they become available.
“Carlos argues that because immigrant children are thrust into roles as translators and
spokespersons for their parents, they both learn skills and acquire the motivation to become
more engaged in civic and political life, facilitating their parents’ engagement in politics as well.
The result is a theoretically important, robust work grounded in a wide range of careful, multi-method sources.”
—Michael Jones-Correa, coauthor of Holding Fast: Resilience and Civic Engagement among Latino Immigrants
“Carlos masterfully unearths a long-concealed truth about immigrant political incorporation.
The rupture of migration across borders, cultures, languages, and civic norms can upend
traditional family relations, where the child becomes the parent and helps their elders learn the
rules of their new home country. Carlos unlocks a key piece to the puzzle of Latino
‘underparticipation’ in electoral politics. A bravura debut from an important new voice.”
—Taeku Lee, Harvard University
“This book is important as it is the most in-depth exploration of information brokering and
political participation to date, filling a gap in the field—especially for political
scientists.”
—Janelle Wong, author of Immigrants, Evangelicals and Politics in an Era of Demographic Change
