American Indian Politics and the American Political System (Spectrum Series: Race and Ethnicity in National and Global Politics) [Paperback]

David E. Wilkins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 23, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0847693066 | ISBN-13: 978-0847693061

Since American Indians and Alaskan Natives are the indigenous peoples of North America, why do we fail to acknowledge them as having the first forms of national government? Indian nations are sovereign--they have their own tribal governments, their own separate territories, and they are able to negotiate treaties, exercise taxing authority over persons and businesses in their nations, and operate gambling casinos, among other things. At the same time, the individuals who constitute Native nations have also been declared U.S. citizens subject to congressional legislation, presidential decrees, and rulings by the Supreme Court. The conflict between these two political states of being--and the struggle of Indian nations and tribes to control their own political destiny--form the focal points of this book. American Indian Politics and the American Political System brings together in one source a comprehensive introduction to the history, structure, and function of tribal governments, their relationship to contemporary American politics, and the rights of individual Indians who are often caught in between these frequently contentious sovereigns. As David E. Wilkins expertly demonstrates, American Indian politics today is an elaborate braid of tribal government, American citizenship, indigenous activism, economic development, media attention, and cultural identity. Here, the many strands of American Indian politics come together in a beautiful and authoritative large format book, reader-friendly in every way. Photos, maps, and highlighted case studies add to the highly visual presentation overall.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Wilkins has covered all the bases in his study of tribal governments and even informed us of topics we never suspected were important. This study is a thoroughly comprehensive look at a very complex subject and deserves wide distribution and readership. It is a treasure house of information that is essential for any library on Indian legal and political affairs. (Vine Deloria, Jr., professor emeritus )

Anyone wanting to learn more about the historical context in which contemporary tribal governments exist will find this book enormously useful. It covers a vast amount of material ranging from culture and spirituality to the complex relationship between tribal governments and the U.S. The book is an important addition to any library. I highly recommend it. (Wilma Mankiller )

Wilkins' comprehensive book executes a paradigm shift by elevating Indian governments to their proper status as full, sovereign partners in the federal system and, thus, also as important subjects for students of political science and intergovernmental relations. Wilkins treats tribal governments and their intergovernmental relations seriously rather than devaluing them as mere reservations, federal dependents, another species of local government, or adjuncts to an ethnic rights movement. Although rendered stateless during the years of conquest, trusteeship, assimilation, and termination, they remianed nations because they remain 'peoples.' But are they to remain peoples without states? Wilkins' book is a step toward reconstruction. (John Kincaid, director/editor )

Wilkins' contribution to the study of American Indian politics is a major one. American Indian Politics and the American Political System is well-written and organized. The book is written from a cross-disciplinary, interdisciplinary perspective. (David E. Camacho )

Wilkins has written the first general study of contemporary Indians in the U.S. from the disciplinary standpoint of political science. His inclusion of legal matters results in sophisticated treatment of many contemporary issues involving Native American governments and the government of the U.S., and gives readers a good background for understanding other questions. The writing is clear--not a minor matter in such a complex subject--and short case histories are presented, plus links (including websites) to many sources of information. Intended for undergraduates, but also valuable for graduate students, researchers, and the serious general public. (Choice )

An enormous undertaking in which David Wilkins has succeeded brilliantly. Nowhere else does the depth of political analysis and contextualization of the present circumstances of indigenous tribes and nations appear. . . . Comprehensive, unquestionably original, and long overdue. (Franke Wilmer )

Fills a very important need for informative, unsentimental scholarship on American Indian politics. (McKeen, Gayle )

The worlds of scholarship and action have been waiting for a book like this. Wilkins has mastered a hugely complicated range of topics with insight, care, and sheer diligence. This is the perfect textbook for any course on contemporary native policy. (Joe Kalt )

About the Author

David E. Wilkins is associate professor of American Indian politics and adjunct professor of political science and law at the University of Minnesota.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (August 23, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847693066
• ISBN-13: 978-0847693061
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,756,164 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Professor David E. Wilkins holds the McKnight Presidential Professorship in American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota. He has adjunct appointments in political science, law, and American studies. He received his doctorate in political science from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 1990. Wilkins's research and teaching interests include indigenous politics and governance, federal Indian policy and law, comparative politics, and diplomacy and constitutional development.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars best textbook treatment of American Indians in US political system, November 11, 2005

By 

Arthur Digbee (Indianapolis, IN, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: American Indian Politics and the American Political System (Spectrum Series: Race and Ethnicity in National and Global Politics) (Paperback)

This is an essential text on role of Indians in US political system, designed to be used by undergraduates. The chapters cover just about every issue, including history, demographics, activism, tribal political systems, federal and state policies toward Indians, and the images of Native Americans in national media. The emphasis is on Native Americans within the US political system as a whole, and not on politics within tribes or on reservations.

Though the factual material is presented in a balanced way, Wilkins has a clear political position that is evident in every chapter of the text. Among other consequences, this means that he does not take a critical stance toward the tribal governments, political movements, or individual Native Americans that he discusses. In the classroom, this would provide a good foundation for discussion, while the non-classroom reader will simply have to read the book critically.

While the bias is a "feature," not a "flaw," the book also has some minor flaws. For examples, uncertain organization mars the chapter on "actors in Indian politics." Rather than focusing narrowly on these actors, Wilkins intersperses his treatment of actors and the history of particular policies. Some of this confusion is inevitable, since the role of the BIA as an actor obviously reflects the legislative history of the agency, but Wilkins does not try to keep these issues analytically distinct.

Oddly for a book on politics, Wilkins doesn't discuss tribal political systems all that much. For much better treatment of this issue, albeit one limited to the Montana reservations, see Lopach et al., Tribal Government Today.

Despite these weaknesses, this really is the best overall book on American Indian politics that I have been able to find. It would be useful both for the general reader interested in the topic and for undergraduate classroom use.

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent, authoritative resource, November 9, 2009

By 

Tech, Books, Coffee (California) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: American Indian Politics and the American Political System (Spectrum Series: Race and Ethnicity in National and Global Politics) (Paperback)

One of the few studies of Native American politics out there today. I teach courses in racial and ethnic politics, and this book is incredibly helpful, not only for the arguments that Wilkins makes, but perhaps even more so because of its comprehensive scope--both historically, and with respect to political behavior *and* institutions.

4.0 out of 5 stars American Indian Politics .. what a history lesson!, July 2, 2009

By 

B. C. Williamson "technogrammie" (NE Florida) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: American Indian Politics and the American Political System (Spectrum Series: Race and Ethnicity in National and Global Politics) (Paperback)

As a descendant of the Lumbee Indians of North Carolina, David Wilkins is the perfect person to write this very informative book. If you are interested in the history of the native American peoples, I recommend that this book is in your reading list.