California Politics: Shifting Majorities, Emerging Minorities

This volume of selections presents a contemporary view of the political, cultural and social changes that have occurred in California in the late 20th century and early 21st century. This is a set of writings from distinguished scholars and observers of the California political scene whose analysis of the shifting racial majorities and emerging racial and cultural minorities in state has affected many facets of life. The issues of immigration, emergence and power of Latino politics, African American, Latino and Korean American conflicts in the political arena, and the evolution of gay and lesbian politics all bring a unique tapestry of culture and race and ethnicity that was once dominated by an Anglo culture.

This anthology will be useful for students seeking careers in teaching in California as well as students seeking to work in the urban communities of the Los Angeles area and the rural areas of the state. This book also offers case studies for political science and sociology students who are interested in the dynamics of race and class concerning historic moments in contemporary California history.

Dr. Robert Stanley Oden is a lifelong community and political activist from his hometown of San Diego and the Oakland/Berkeley communities in California, as well as a former Black Panther Party member. After working for 20 years in city government as a community development specialist and management analyst in Berkeley and San Diego, he earned a Ph.D. from U.C. Santa Cruz in sociology in 2000. Dr. Oden currently teaches at CSU Sacramento in the Government and Liberal Studies Department. He has published several essays, including in Race, Poverty and Social Justice (2007), Hurricane Katrina, Response and Responsibilities (2005), and Introduction to Ethnic Studies (2004).