James S. Lai

James S. Lai is a Professor in the Ethnic Studies Department with a courtesy appointment in the Political Science Department at Santa Clara University. In many ways, his scholarship focuses on understanding the common and unique Asian American experiences in both the continental United States and the transnational context in relation to their participation in American politics. At the heart of his work is the tension between the democratic idea of pluralism and the emerging intersections of race, space, ethnicity, class, nationality, and citizenship during various stages of group political incorporation. As society becomes increasingly diverse, and as Asian Americans become an integral part of the American fabric with other minority racial groups, these tensions will remain and manifest in unique ways in the areas of electoral politics, public policy, and race relations.