The Politics of Minority Coalitions: Race, Ethnicity, and Shared Uncertainties

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This important new volume analyzes relations among America's minority groups, specifically the prospects of political coalitions among those usually unrelated groups: African Americans, Asian-Americans, Latinos, Jews, Arab-Americans, and Native Americans. At the end of the 20th century, the United States is faced with a situation where minority groups are no longer assimilating but rather are moving toward separate mini-societies, complete with separate languages, cultures, and economies. Even if society accepts the notion that cultural pluralism is consistent with democratic principles, the possibility of political hyperpluralism (endless and nonproductive conflicts among groups) is disturbing. This volume, therefore, attempts to address the concerns, examining the background of minority organizations, voting behavior issues, and coalitional possibilities. This volume will be of interest to scholars and students alike in American government and ethnic and minority politics.

Reviews

[P]resents a hard but realistic picture of race and ethnic relations and the multiple challenges that minorities face in building coalitions, including the unsympathetic dominant white population as exemplified by intra- and inter-ethnic sterotypes of minority groups. Moreover, it provides a vairety of perspectives on each minority group. The chapters are rich in content, expounding historical encounters of poltically emerging groups and analytical and theoretical frameworks as well as insights into the persistent problems of groups having minority status. It is a significant contribution toward a better understanding of the politics of minority groups and their delicate relations with mainstream America.-Journal of American Ethnic History
Rich's edited volume on the possibility of nondominant groups in the US forming effective political coalitions is one of the best on the topic. His reach is encyclopedic, including African, Asian, Latino, Jewish, Native, and Arab American groups creating what he calls a 'mosaic' competing with dominant political groups and with each other to become or remain powerful political actors in the US. He includes scholars well known for their skill in discussing coalition politics, including Paula McClain, Arati Rao, Rodolfo de la Garza, Lana Stein, and Mohannad T. Mehdi, to provide a wealth of perspectives. Tables are thoughtful and quite readable for those not well versed in quantitative behavioral science. The comparative nature of this approach to race and ethnicity includes musings on intra- and intergroup violent behavior--a sobering commentary. The reference materials at the conclusion of each chapter are well presented. Specialists and novices need to read this book because a multiple, interactive perspective on race and ethnic relations is a critical necessity in the current political scene.-Choice
"Presents a hard but realistic picture of race and ethnic relations and the multiple challenges that minorities face in building coalitions, including the unsympathetic dominant white population as exemplified by intra- and inter-ethnic sterotypes of minority groups. Moreover, it provides a vairety of perspectives on each minority group. The chapters are rich in content, expounding historical encounters of poltically emerging groups and analytical and theoretical frameworks as well as insights into the persistent problems of groups having minority status. It is a significant contribution toward a better understanding of the politics of minority groups and their delicate relations with mainstream America."-Journal of American Ethnic History
"[P]resents a hard but realistic picture of race and ethnic relations and the multiple challenges that minorities face in building coalitions, including the unsympathetic dominant white population as exemplified by intra- and inter-ethnic sterotypes of minority groups. Moreover, it provides a vairety of perspectives on each minority group. The chapters are rich in content, expounding historical encounters of poltically emerging groups and analytical and theoretical frameworks as well as insights into the persistent problems of groups having minority status. It is a significant contribution toward a better understanding of the politics of minority groups and their delicate relations with mainstream America."-Journal of American Ethnic History
"Rich's edited volume on the possibility of nondominant groups in the US forming effective political coalitions is one of the best on the topic. His reach is encyclopedic, including African, Asian, Latino, Jewish, Native, and Arab American groups creating what he calls a 'mosaic' competing with dominant political groups and with each other to become or remain powerful political actors in the US. He includes scholars well known for their skill in discussing coalition politics, including Paula McClain, Arati Rao, Rodolfo de la Garza, Lana Stein, and Mohannad T. Mehdi, to provide a wealth of perspectives. Tables are thoughtful and quite readable for those not well versed in quantitative behavioral science. The comparative nature of this approach to race and ethnicity includes musings on intra- and intergroup violent behavior--a sobering commentary. The reference materials at the conclusion of each chapter are well presented. Specialists and novices need to read this book because a multiple, interactive perspective on race and ethnic relations is a critical necessity in the current political scene."-Choice

Author Bio

WILBUR C. RICH is Professor of Political Science at Wellesley College in Massachusetts. He is the author of Black Mayors and School Politics (1996) and Coleman Young and Detroit Politics (1989).