Synopses & Reviews
PRAISE FOR PREVIOUS EDITIONS"This book is a unique resource for helping students to understand the interplay between diverse populations and the American political system. The latest edition provides a rich introduction to the histories, theoretical concepts, and key terms associated with U.S. racial and ethnic politics."
Janelle S. Wong, University of Maryland
"I rely upon Can We All Get Along as the backbone of my race and American politics course."
Regina Freer, Occidental College
"[This book] gives students and instructors alike the updated comparative data and nuanced interpretation they need to understand the magnitude of racial and ethnic politics in the United States."
David E. Wilkins, University of Minnesota
In a nation built by immigrants and bedeviled by the history and legacy of slavery and discrimination, issues of liberty, equality, and community continue to challenge Americans. In the sixth edition of this widely acclaimed text, Paula D. McClain and Joseph Stewart Jr. combine traditional elements of political science analysishistory, Constitutional theory, institutions, political behavior, and policy actorswith a fully updated survey of the political status of four major groups: African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, and American Indians. The authors show similarities and differences in these groups political action and experience, and point the way toward coalition, competition, and consensus building in the face of ongoing conflict.
The sixth edition is thoroughly updated following the 2012 presidential election and provides new coverage of President Obamas first term including discussions of judicial appointments, the Affordable Care Act, and other policy changes. With increased coverage of native Hawaiians and all new chapter openers, "Can We All Get Along?" continues to provide the most extensive comparative coverage of minority politics in the United States.
Paula D. McClain is a professor of political science and public policy and Dean of the Graduate School and Vice Provost for Graduate Education at Duke University. She is also Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in the Social Sciences at Duke University. Her articles have appeared in numerous journals.
Joseph Stewart Jr. is professor of political science at Clemson University. His work has appeared in a variety of political science, education, public policy, and interdisciplinary journals. His award-winning books include Race, Class, and Education (with Ken Meier and Robert England) and The Politics of Hispanic Education (with Ken Meier).
Review
Praise for Prior Editions:“This latest edition of ‘Can We All Get Along?’, arriving as it does in the recent wake of the paradigm shifting election of President Obama, gives students and instructors alike the updated comparative data and nuanced interpretation they need to understand the magnitude of racial and ethnic politics in the U.S.”
—David E. Wilkins, University of Minnesota
“In the wake of an historic election, students will be searching for ways to understand the significance of race and ethnicity in American politics. This book offers a comprehensive and comparative approach to this important topic. It provides crucial historical context, vital contemporary data, and a survey of the most up-to-date theory in the field. For these reasons, I rely upon ‘Can We All Get Along?’ as the backbone of my Race and American Politics course.”
—Regina Freer, Occidental College
“‘Can We All Get Along?’ explains why Barack Obama’s 2008 election to the presidency has not made Rodney King’s plaintive cry in 1992 irrelevant any more than it has eliminated race and ethnicity as factors integral to American politics, and the new 5th edition enables our comprehension of those facts to be as contemporary as today’s headlines. Students in a basic American government course will learn from this versatile, accessible book that ethnicity/race is not merely a theme casually imposed on American politics; those in a minority politics class will be treated to a unique comparative examination of American politics from the divergent perspectives of principal American ethnic/racial minority groups. McClain and Stewart continue their tradition of clear and analytical writing that is also interesting. An exceptionally useful text!”
—Jim Sheffield, University of Oklahoma
“This book is a unique resource for helping students to understand the interplay between diverse populations and the American political system. The latest edition provides a rich introduction to the histories, theoretical concepts, and key terms associated with U.S. racial and ethnic politics. Students will also appreciate the authors’ attention to recent statistics and the dynamics of the 2008 Presidential race.”
—Janelle S. Wong, University of Southern California
“Hooray and congratulations! The new edition of ‘Can We All Get Along?’ comes just in time (including the '08 election) to adopt for my introduction to American government course.”
—Theodore J. Lowi, Cornell University
Praise for Previous Editions:
It is ironic, given all the interest and commitment today, that this important book fills a void in the literature on minority groups in the American political process. Although the book is comprehensive and instructive as a textbook ought to be, the authors do not sacrifice scholarly analysis, nor do they indulge in sentimentality. After three editions, the book has moved from recommended to essential. Congratulations to the authors and publisher.”
—Theodore J. Lowi, Cornell University
“An insightful analysis of the critical dilemmas of inequality and appropriate political action for contemporary U.S. racial and ethnic minority groups, this book will be an extremely valuable resource for political scientists, their students, and concerned citizens.”
— Bruce E. Cain , University of California, Berkeley
“Not only a perfect supplement to American government texts, focusing on a subject that many believe is the most serious and enduring political dilemma in U.S. politics, but additionally it is a masterful text in itself, bringing together a great deal of information about this nation's major ethno-racial groups— information that previously could only be found in several sources, if at all.”
— F. Chris Garcia , University of New Mexico
Review
From the Fifth Edition:"'Can We All Get Along?' explains why Barack Obamas 2008 election to the presidency has not made Rodney Kings plaintive cry in 1992 irrelevant any more than it has eliminated race and ethnicity as factors integral to American politics. The new fifth edition enables our comprehension of those facts to be as contemporary as todays headlines…An exceptionally useful text!"
—Jim Sheffield, University of Oklahoma
"This book is a unique resource for helping students to understand the interplay between diverse populations and the American political system. The latest edition provides a rich introduction to the histories, theoretical concepts, and key terms associated with U.S. racial and ethnic politics."
—Janelle S. Wong, University of Southern California
"In the wake of an historic election, students will be searching for ways to understand the significance of race and ethnicity in American politics. This book…provides crucial historical context, vital contemporary data, and a survey of the most up-to-date theory in the field…The backbone of my race and American politics course."
—Regina Freer, Occidental College
"This latest edition…gives students and instructors alike the updated comparative data and nuanced interpretation they need to understand the magnitude of racial and ethnic politics in the United States."
—David E. Wilkins, University of Minnesota
Synopsis
An updated edition of this best-selling textbook, which combines traditional elements of political science analysis with a thoroughgoing survey of the political status of Blacks, Latinos, Asian Americans, and American Indians.
Synopsis
In a nation built by immigrants and bedeviled by the history and legacy of slavery and discrimination, issues of liberty, equality, and community continue to challenge Americans. In the sixth edition of this widely acclaimed text, Paula D. McClain and Joseph Stewart Jr. combine traditional elements of political science analysis—history, Constitutional theory, institutions, political behavior, and policy actors—with a fully updated survey of the political status of four major groups: African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, and American Indians. The authors show similarities and differences in these groups political action and experience, and point the way toward coalition, competition, and consensus building in the face of ongoing conflict. Two dilemmas shape the book: How do we as a nation reconcile a commitment to equality with persistent inequality and discrimination? And what can we do about it—from the perspective of ethnic and racial minorities as well as within the dominant culture?
The sixth edition is thoroughly updated following the 2012 presidential election and provides new coverage of President Obamas first term including discussions of judicial appointments, the Affordable Care Act, and other policy changes. With increased coverage of native Hawaiians and all new chapter openers, "Can We All Get Along?" continues to provide the most extensive comparative coverage of minority politics in the United States.
About the Author
Paula D. McClain is a professor of political science and public policy and Dean of the Graduate School and Vice Provost for Graduate Education at Duke University. She is also Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in the Social Sciences at Duke University. Her articles have appeared in numerous journals, including the
Journal of Politics,
American Political Science Review,
Urban Affairs Review, and
The Du Bois Review: Social Science Research on Race.
Joseph Stewart Jr. is professor of political science at Clemson University. His work has appeared in a variety of political science, education, public policy, and interdisciplinary journals. His award-winning books include Race, Class, and Education (with Ken Meier and Robert England) and The Politics of Hispanic Education (with Ken Meier).
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations and MapsList of Acronyms
Preface
1. Americas Dilemmas
Terms Used in This Book
Race and Ethnicity
American Government Foundation and Racial Minorities
The Constitution and Black and Indian Citizenship
Citizenship and Later Minorities: Latinos and Asians
The Constitution and Black and Indian Suffrage
Structure of This Book
Conclusion
2. Resources and Status of Americas Racial Minorities
Population Size, Socioeconomic Status, and Concentration
Participation in a Civil Rights Movement
Voting Rights Law
Conclusion
3. Americas Racial Minorities in the Contemporary Political System: Actors
Group Identity and Perceptions of Discrimination
Political Ideology
Partisian Identification
Voting Behavior
The 2000 Elections
The 2004 Elections
The 2008 Elections
The 2012 Elections
Interest Group Activities
Conclusion
4. Americas Racial Minorities in the Policymaking Process
Agenda Setting
Minority Representation
Federalism
State Elective Office
Equal Educational Opportunity
Affirmative Action in Employment
Extension of the Voting Rights Act (VRA)
Conclusion
5. Coalition or Competition?: Patterns of Interminority Group Relations
Interminority Group Relations
Coalition or Competition Politics?
Los Angeles
Conclusion
6. Will We All Get Along”?
The Dilemmas Revisited
Targeting Racial and Ethnic Minorities
VRA: Looking to the Future
Conclusion
Discussion Questions
Glossary
Timelines
Notes
References
Index