State of Resistance: What California's Dizzying Descent and Remarkable Resurgence Mean for America's Future by Pastor, Manuel

A leading sociologist's brilliant, revelatory argument that the future of politics, work, immigration, and more can be found in California

Lauded by James Fallows on the front page of the New York Times Book Review as "concise, clear, and convincing" upon its hardcover publication, State of Resistance makes the case for honestly engaging racial anxiety in order to address our true economic and generational challenges, renewing our commitment to public investments, cultivating social movements and community organizing, and more.

Once upon a time, any mention of California triggered unpleasant reminders of Ronald Reagan and right-wing tax revolts, ballot propositions targeting undocumented immigrants, and racist policing that sparked two of the nation's most devastating riots. In fact, California confronted many of the challenges the country faces now--decades before the rest of us.

As white residents became a minority and job loss drove economic uncertainty, California had its own Trump moment twenty-five years ago but has become increasingly blue over each of the last seven presidential elections. Today, California is leading the way on addressing climate change, low-wage work, immigrant integration, overincarceration, and more. Pastor expertly reveals how the Golden State did it.

And as Neera Tandeen, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, said, "State of Resistance paints a brilliant picture of how our generation can seize the opportunity to forge a more inclusive, just, and prosperous America for every family."

Author: Manuel Pastor
Publisher: New Press
Published: 09/03/2019
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.40w x 0.90d
ISBN: 9781620975572

About the Author

Manuel Pastor is the director of the Equity Research Institute at the University of Southern California where he is also a Distinguished Professor of Sociology and American Studies and Ethnicity and the inaugural holder of the Turpanjian Chair in Civil Society and Social Change. He has co-authored five books with Chris Benner, including Equity, Growth and Community: What the Nation Can Learn From America's Metro Areas, Solidarity Economics: Why Mutuality and Movements Matter, and Charging Forward: Lithium Valley, Electric Vehicles, and a Just Future (The New Press). Pastor is also the author of State of Resistance: What California's Dizzying Descent and Remarkable Resurgence Mean for America's Future (The New Press). He lives in Los Angeles.