Andrew L. Aoki – författare

"The authors have done a commendable and impressive job of addressing a topic of long-lasting and increasing significance in U.S. politics." ---F. Chris Garcia, University of New Mexico

"This is a path-breaking book that will be read across disciplines beyond political science." ---James Jennings, Tufts University

Over the past four decades, the United States has experienced the largest influx of immigrants in its history. Not only has the ratio of European to non-European newcomers changed, but the numbers of recent arrivals from the Asian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, South America, and other regions are increasing.

In this timely study, a team of political scientists examines how the arrival of these newcomers has affected the efforts of long-standing U.S. minority groups---Blacks, Latinos, and Asian Pacific Americans---to gain equality through greater political representation and power. The authors predict that, for some time to come, the United States will function as a complex multiracial hierarchy, rather than as a genuine democracy.

Ronald Schmidt, Sr. is Professor of Political Science at California State University, Long Beach.

Yvette M. Alex-Assensoh is Associate Professor of Political Science and Dean of the Office for Women''s Affairs (OWA) at Indiana University, Bloomington.

Andrew L. Aoki is Professor of Political Science at Augsburg College.

Rodney E. Hero is Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley.

Over the past four decades, the United States has experienced the largest influx of immigrants in its history. Not only has the ratio of European to non-European newcomers changed, but recent arrivals are coming from the Asian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, South America, and other regions which have not previously supplied many immigrants to the United States. In this timely study, a team of political scientists examines how the arrival of these newcomers has affected the efforts of long-standing minority groups---Blacks, Latinos, and Asian Pacific Americans---to gain equality through greater political representation and power. The authors predict that, for some time to come, the United States will function as a complex multiracial hierarchy, rather than as a genuine democracy.

Asian Americans are the fastest-growing voting bloc in the United States, with AAPI turnout hitting a record high in the 2020 elections. Yet, as a political cohort, they are also remarkably complex and diverse, encompassing a number of ethno-racial groups with different languages, religions, and cultures. How, exactly, can we define Asian America? And what insight can we discern from their politics?In The Battle for Belonging, Andrew L. Aoki, James S. Lai, and Okiyoshi Takeda provide the first comprehensive, up-to-date textbook in over a decade that guides readers through the key political issues, beliefs, and activism that shape the lives of Asian Americans today.Beginning with the first large waves of immigrants, the authors show Asians in America have fought for equal treatment and opportunity, struggling against individual prejudices and systemic discrimination. While this battle for belonging has been a constant, Asian America has changed greatly. The authors look at how the growing diversity has contributed to a wider range of views, and how the changing circumstances of Asian immigrants has helped drive new forms of political engagement. No longer clustered in inner-city areas, Asian Americans today are often concentrated in suburban cities, mobilizing through online platforms that can be overlooked by more traditional political organizing. Timely topics include the social media activism of unnaturalized Asian American youth; the role that Asian American community-based organizations play as key political actors; the strategies employed by Asian American political campaigns and office-holders; and recent coalition-building with other people of color, including Black and Indigenous communities. Ultimately, Aoki, Lai, and Takeda provide much-needed, contemporary insight into the changing political identity and actions of Asian Americans.