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Department of Ethnic Studies

James S. Lai

James S. Lai

Professor

James S. Lai is an award-winning Professor in the Ethnic Studies department with a courtesy appointment in the Department of Political Science. Lai received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Southern California (2000) and his M.A. in Asian American Studies from the University of California at Los Angeles (1992). Upon receiving his doctorate, he began teaching at Santa Clara University since Fall of 2000 and has been going strong since.

As an interdisciplinary-trained scholar who seeks to bridge the fields of Ethnic Studies and Political Science, his research and teaching interests and specialties include U.S. racial and ethnic politics, social media and civic engagement, urban politics, multi-racial coalitions, Asian American communities, California local politics, and Asian American politics.

On the teaching front, Dr. Lai has taught the following Ethnic Studies courses with an Asian American emphasis such as Ethnic Studies 40: Introduction to Asian American Studies; Ethnic Studies 142: Asian American Communities; and Ethnic Studies 144: Asian Americans in the Mass Media. His other courses are focused on multiracial politics and policy in the U.S. such as Ethnic Studies 153: Minority Politics in the U.S. and Ethnic Studies 185: Seminar in U.S. Racial and Ethnic Politics. The Multicultural Center’s McBeary Awards has recognized Dr. Lai’s teaching and mentoring with “Professor of the Year” twice since he has been at SCU.

In regard to his research and publications, Dr. Lai’s current book project, The Battle for Belonging, will be a historical and contemporary political history of Asian Americans that will be published in Spring 2026 by NYU Press.

His previous book Asian American Connective Action in the Age of Social Media (2022, Temple University Press), examines how social media is changing the ways Asian Americans participate in politics. The book was the recipient of the 2023 Best Book on Race, Ethnicity, and Identity by the Race, Ethnicity, and Politics (REP) section of the American Political Science Association (APSA). The book also was honored by Choice as one of the 2022 Outstanding Academic Titles (OAT), a recognition that goes to the top ten percent of all academic books published each year.

Some of his past publications include the book Asian American Political Action: Suburban Transformations (2011 Lynne Rienner Publishers) that examines the rise of Asian American politics in small to medium size suburbs throughout the nation, and Asian American Politics: Law, Participation, and Policy (2002 Rowman & Littlefield). In addition to these books, Lai has published peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on U.S. racial politics and Asian American politics such as the following: “Revisiting Panethnicity: Emerging Political Contours in Asian Pacific American Politics" (PS: Political Science & Politics), "Shifting Political Terrains in the ‘City by the Bay:’ Mayor Ed Lee and the Two Convergences of San Francisco Politics” (Journal of Chinese Overseas),” "Transforming Ethnic Politics: A Comparative Analysis of Electoral Support for and Policy Priorities of Asian American and Latino Elected Officials" (Asian Law Journal), and "Asian Pacific American Campaigns, Elections, and Elected Officials” (PS: Political Science & Politics).

 

Courses
  • Ethnic Studies 40: Intro to Asian American Studies
  • Ethnic Studies 142: Asian American Communities
  • Ethnic Studies 144 Asian Americans in the Media
  • Ethnic Studies 153: Minority Politics in the United States
  • Ethnic Studies 185: Seminar in Racial and Ethnic Politics
Publications

Lai, James S. 2011. Asian American Political Action: Suburban Transformations. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers.

Nakanishi, Don T. and James S. Lai, eds. 2003. Asian American Politics: Law, Participation, and Policy. Boulder, CO: Rowman & Littlefield.

Nakanishi, Don T. and James S. Lai, eds. National Asian Pacific American Political Almanac, Editions 6 to 14. Los Angeles, CA: UCLA Asian American Studies Center Press.

Lai, James S.; 2010. “Multiplexing Racial and Ethnic Planes: Chinese American Politics in Globalized Immigrant Suburbs,” Amerasia Journal 36:3, 83-105.

Lai, James S. and Kim Geron. 2006. “When Asian Americans Run: The Suburban and Urban Dimensions of Asian American Candidates in California Local Politics.” California Politics & Policy, Vol. 10, No. 1: 62-88.

Geron, Kim and James S. Lai. 2002. “Beyond Symbolic Representation: A Comparison of the Electoral Pathways and Policy Priorities of Asian American and Latino Elected Officials,” Asian Law Journal, Vol. 9, No. 1: 41-81.

Lai, James S., Thomas P. Kim, Wendy Cho, and Okiyoshi Takeda. 2001. "Asian Pacific American Campaigns, Elections, and Elected Officials,” PS: Political Science & Politics, Vol. 34, No. 3: 611-618.

News broadcast about Lai and new program at local high school.

 

Alt text:  
Man speaking in a news interview about Lai minority hiring complaints, text on screen with subtitles.

In the News

October 9, 2024

James Lai was interviewed by Radio Television Hong Kong in the audio segment, "US presidential contenders court sian-America vote" (starts at 19:28)

September 15, 2024

James Lai is interviewed in the article, "Asian American political activists hope to impact 2024 presidential election," by america.cgtn.com.

May 15, 2023

James Lai is interviewed in the article, "How American Chinatowns Emerged Amid 19th-Century Racism," by History.com.