Cultural Diversity In Local Politics Essays -- essays research papers

Cultural Diversity in Local PoliticsOverviewThis paper explores the limits and potentials of ethnic and racial coalitionbuilding in Los Angeles. The demographic changes that have occurred in LosAngeles during the past twenty years have been extraordinary, both in scope anddiversity.The area has witnessed a literal boom in macrocosm growth, increasing from 7million in 1970 to 8.8 million in 1990. (US Bureau of the Census) However, it isthe dramatic change in ethnic and racial diversity of the population which hascaught most observers attention.Los Angeles has taken on a new form in terms of its racial diversity, movingfrom a biracial to a multiethnic setting. The non-Hispanic snow-covered population hasdeclined from its 71 percent share in 1970 to a narrow numerical plurality of 41percent of the countys population in 1990.Meanwhile, the Latino and Asiatic Pacific population witnessed a doubling -- from15% to 39% -- and near quadrupling from 3% to 11% of their population sharesres pectively. Meanwhile, African the Statesns, while slightly suppuration numerically,were a constant share of the county population (11%) during this period. (Oliverand Johnson57-94) Thus, on the eve of the twenty-first century, Los Angeleshas one of the most ethnically diverse populations of any metropolitan area inthe country.What does this ethnic diversity mean for multiethnic coalition building in thepolitics of Los Angeles County? Does the changing demography increase theopportunity for ethnic cooperation? Or, has the ethnic changes change magnitude ratherthan decreased the prospects of interethnic conflict?IntroductionAfter the 1992 riots, a clarion call was issued from all corners for theemerging multiethnic majority to take its rightful repoint in the politics andleadership of the city. A multiethnic coalition, it ws suggested, could lead thecity to a new multicultural future.This call was clearly built on the premiss that three divers groups AfricanAmericans, Asian Pacif ic Islanders and Latinos could come together and pursuea coalition built on their common interests.But what do we do know about the prospects of multiethnic coalitions? There isvoluminous literature on urban politics. However, this literature has beenshaped principally by the question of racial politics. (Browning, Marshall andTabb) That is, how have traditional urban politics,... ... California Press, 1984).Carmichael, Stokely, and Charles V. Hamilton, Black Power (New York VintageBooks, 1967).Horton, John. "The Politics of Ethnic Change Grass Roots Responses to Economicand demographic Restructuring in Monterey Park, California," Urban Geography106 (1989) 578-592.LASUI (Los Angeles Survey of Inequality) Focus Group Interviews, 1992.Oliver, Melvin L., and James H. Johnson, Jr., "Interethnic Conflict in an UrbanGhetto The Case of Blacks and Latinos in Los Angeles," inquiry in SocialMovements, Conflict, and Change 6 (1984) 57-94 US Bureau of the Census.. op.cit.Oliv er and Johnson, see above Also by Oliver and Johnson, "InterethnicMinority Conflict in Urban America The Effects of Economic and SocialDislocations," Urban Geography 10 (1989) 449-463.Ramos, George and Tracy Wilkinson, "Unrest Widens Rifts in Latino Population,"Los Angeles Times, May 8, 1992.Sonenshein, Rafael J., Politics in Black and White operate and Power in LosAngeles (Princeton NJ Princeton University Press, 1993).US Bureau of the Census, Census of Population and Housing. (Washington, DC USBureau of the Census, 1970).