Cultural Diversity In Local Politics

Cultural Diversity in Local Politics


Overview


This paper explores the limits and potentials of ethnic and racial coalition

building in Los Angeles. The demographic changes that have occurred in Los

Angeles during the past twenty years have been extraordinary, both in scope and

diversity.


The area has witnessed a literal boom in population growth, increasing from 7

million in 1970 to 8.8 million in 1990. (US Bureau of the Census) However, it is

the dramatic change in ethnic and racial diversity of the population which has

caught most observers attention.


Los Angeles has taken on a new form in terms of its racial diversity, moving

from a biracial to a multiethnic setting. The non-Hispanic White population has

declined from its 71 percent share in 1970 to a narrow numerical plurality of 41

percent of the county's population in 1990.


Meanwhile, the Latino and Asian Pacific population witnessed a doubling  -- from

15% to 39% -- and near quadrupling – from 3% to 11% of their population shares

respectively. Meanwhile, African Americans, while slightly growing numerically,

were a constant share of the county population (11%) during this period. (Oliver

and Johnson:57-94)  Thus, on the eve of the twenty-first century, Los Angeles

has one of the most ethnically diverse populations of any metropolitan area in

the country.


What does this ethnic diversity mean for multiethnic coalition building in the

politics of Los Angeles County? Does the changing demography increase the

opportunity for ethnic cooperation? Or, has the ethnic changes increased rather

than decreased the prospects of interethnic conflict?


Introduction


After the 1992 riots, a clarion call was issued from all corners for the

emerging multiethnic majority to take its rightful place in the politics and

leadership of the city. A multiethnic coalition, it ws suggested, could lead the

city to a new multicultural future.


This call was clearly built on the assumption that three divers groups – African

Americans, Asian Pacific Islanders and Latinos – could come together and pursue

a coalition built on their common interests.


But what do we do know about the prospects of multiethnic coalitions? There is

voluminous literature on urban politics. However, this literature has been

shaped principally by the question of racial politics. (Browning, Marshall and

Tabb) That is, how have traditional urban politics, read White politics, been

affected or impacted by the role of Blacks on the urban scene.


Probably the most influential work on Black/White urban political coalitions was

Carmichael and Hamilton's Black Power. (Carmichael and Hamilton)  In this work,

as in most of the literature, the foundation of coalitions were based on common

interests.


They argued that all political relations are based on common self interest –

benefits to be gained and losses to be avoided. From this perspective,

Carmichael and Hamilton argued, there were no permanent friends or enemies for

Blacks in their struggle for freedom and power – only temporary alliances when

self interests coincide.


Thus, they rejected the notion that White liberals, whose ideological

orientation was favorable to Black aspirations, should be viewed as reliable and

enduring allies. Rather, they were perceived as one among many which could be

either potential allies or potential adversaries on the road to power.


Carmichael and Hamilton's emphasis on interests and ideology alone, when

extended to the multiethnic scene of Los Angeles, portends a rather bleak future

for multiethnic coalitions.


Alliances forging common interests are not readily evident or clear among the

diversity of racial and ethnic groups in Los Angeles. Moreover, class and ethnic

divisions between and within ethnic and racial groups have structured competing

and cross-cutting interests that, on the face, appear to be overwhelming.


Ethnic groups, for example, have diverse interests based on such factors as

citizenship, ethnicity and class. Latinos are divided by the diverse interest
This is ONLY a preview of the article. If you would like to view the entire document, you must subscribe to Academic Library. Please register below now!









Subscribe to Academic Library
When you subscribe to the Academic Library, you get 24-hour access to the online database containing full-text articles written by thousands of scholarly students. For only $8.95 per month, you receive unlimited monthly access to view and download all of our 40,000 articles available online. That is less than the price of one textbook!
This price includes:

24-hours-a-day, 7 days a week unlimited access on any computer with Internet access
Complete access to all 40,000 articles, essays, and research papers
Ability to view and download virtually unlimited number of documents
Ability to browse through perfectly arranged catalog of articles
Superior search and relevancy ranking techniques using Google SiteSearch and our local search engine
Instant access to the online database after registration


You can pay by credit card, checking account. You get instant access after registration:


You will be billed $ 8.95 every 30 days (recurring billing) starting on the day you subscribe.

Your credit card will automatically be renewed for your convenience until you cancel.




If you are already registered, please click here to login.