Journal of Political Sciences & Public Affairs
Open Access

James S Lai

Biography

James S. Lai is an Associate Professor who holds a joint appointment with the Ethnic Studies Program and the Department of Political Science at Santa Clara University.  Dr. Lai currently serves as the Director of the Ethnic Studies Program since 2008. 

Dr. 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).  His teaching and research interests and specialties include U.S. racial and ethnic politics, U.S. immigration, Asian American politics, urban politics, community studies, and California state and local politics.  In 2011, Dr. Lai published his book, Asian American Political Action: Suburban Transformations (Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers), which examines the demographic shifts and the rise of Asian American political incorporation in small to medium size suburbs throughout the continental United States.  

Dr. Lai has commentated in state, national, and international media such as NPR’s “California Report” and “Forum,” the San Jose Mercury News, the San Francisco Chronicle, China Daily News, World Journal, the New York Times, and CNN
 

Research Interest

Intro to Asian American Studies
Minority Politics in the United States
Asian American Communities