Asian American Politics
March 2009, Polity
The role of identity provides an organizing theme which allows students to see connections between different aspects of Asian American politics. Andrew Aoki and Okiyoshi Takeda explain how the fate of Asian Americans has been powerfully influenced by the way they have been portrayed in the media, and more generally, in US society. Students are introduced to the “forever foreigner” image, which has helped to marginalise Asian Americans, and the “model minority” myth, which can give policymakers misleading impressions. The book also stresses how Asian Americans have worked to take control of their image and political fortunes. Students learn how the Asian American Movement helped to promote a “panethnic” identity which could strengthen Asian American political influence.
Asian American Politics is a lively and accessible introduction, ideal for students taking courses in race and politics.
For more information and resources visit the accompanying
Preface: Asian American Politics - Racialization and its Consequences
Chapter 1: Why Study Asian American Politics? Racialization and its consequences.
Chapter 2: Asian Americans Today
Chapter 3: Political Participation and Public Opinion
Chapter 4: Interest Groups and Social Movements
Chapter 5: Elected Officials and Representation
Chapter 6: Conflict and Cooperation with Other Minority Groups
Chapter 7: Images of Asian Americans and their Political Consequences
Chapter 8: Asian Americans, Public Policy, and Intersectionality
Chapter 9: The Politics of Identity and the Future of American Politics
Appendix: Defining and Counting Asian Americans
Okiyoshi Takeda is Associate Professor of Political Science at Aoyama Gakuin University.
- comprehensive introduction to the study of Asian American participation in US politics
- accessible and engaging, the book has lots of case studies, tables and figures, and additional features to really students get to grips with the subject
- the role of identity provides an organizing theme which allows students to see connections between different aspects of Asian American politics
- the authors explain how the fate of Asian Americans has been powerfully influenced by the way they have been portrayed in the media, and more generally, in US society
a volume in the Polity series in US Minority Politics
Journal of Asian American Studies
"Andrew L Aoki and Okiyoshi Takeda have written the first undergraduate textbook on Asian American politics. It is an important book for Politics and Asian American Studies students, although its clear yet lively style makes it accessible to students taking courses in race and ethnicity outside these fields."
American Studies Today Online
"Aoki and Takeda deserve a big round of applause for writing the first book on Asian American politics specifically for undergraduate teaching and learning. Comprehensively researched and highly accessible, the book not only is well-positioned for classroom adoption but its framing the search for identity within the political science literature helps opens the political science discipline to broader acceptance of scholarship on Asian Americans."
Pei-te Lien, University of California
"Aoki and Takeda have masterfully written a superb textbook that captures and analyzes the dynamic impact of the 15 million Asian Americans on United States politics and race relations. The voting patterns, social movements, elected officials, inter-racial coalitions and conflicts, and other major political activities of the rapidly growing and diverse Asian American population are presented in a lively, engaging, and highly readable manner. This is a cornerstone book for classes in American politics, race and ethnic studies, Asian American Studies, and public policy."
Don Nakanishi, University of California, Los Angeles
"Now, at last, we have a book that directly addresses the politics of, by, and for Asian Americans. It is long past due, and extremely welcome. Students, researchers, and activists alike are indebted to Aoki and Takeda."
Jennifer Hochschild, Harvard University