Collision Course: The Strange Convergence of Affirmative Action and Immigration Policy in America - Softcover

Graham presents a fascinating tale of interest group politics, agency ccapture, iron triangles, strange political bedfellows, demographic shifts, and unintended consequences (and how each of these political elements weave their way through both affirmative action and immigration policy.)

In his probing new book, [Graham] pulls the two topics together and concludes that immigration poses a mortal threat to existing civil-rights policy.... Graham believes the explosive growth in affirmative-action eligibility, thanks to immigration, now threatens the future of a program designed originally to empower blacks. (John J. Miller, The Wall Street Journal)

The first book to address the clash of immigration and affirmative action policies...long overdue. (National Review)

A concise, informative history of two much-debated policies, made richer by Graham's insight into their obvious relationship to each other. (Commentary)

There is no better guide for understanding civil rights history and politics than Hugh Davis Graham. With the broad vision, balance, and rigor that are his trademarks, Collision Course explains America's inexplicable civil rights politics at the century's turn. Boldly original, provocative, and utterly fascinating. (John D. Skrentny, University of California, San Diego, and author of The Ironies of Affirmative Action)

Combining shrewd political analysis with scholarly rigor, Hugh Graham packs more into these 200 pages than most of us could in 400. His analysis of the unanticipated interaction of immigration and affirmative action policies is tough-minded but scrupulously balanced. And by forcing us to think carefully about two issues that have been debated not only separately but irrationally, Graham helps us to understand our racial and ethnic past (and future.)

Graham's account suggests that while immigration's future in America remains bright, affirmative action as we have known it is probably doomed. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in either. (Peter H. Schuck, Yale University Law School)

A lucid, straightforward book that confirms Graham's standing as one of the finest American political historians of his generation. (David Hollinger, Reviews in American History)

Brilliant. (Wilson Quarterly)

When the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965 were passed, they were seen as triumphs of liberal reform. Yet today affirmative action is foundering in the great waves of immigration from Asia and Latin America, leading to direct competition for jobs, housing, education, and government preference programs. In Collision Course, Hugh Davis Graham explains how two such well-intended laws came into conflict with each other when employers, acting under affirmative action plans, hired millions of new immigrants ushered in by the Immigration Act, while leaving high unemployment among inner-city blacks. He shows how affirmative action for immigrants stirred wide resentment and drew new attention to policy contradictions. Graham sees a troubled future for both programs. As the economy weakens and antiterrorist border controls tighten, the competition for jobs will intensify pressure on affirmative action and invite new restrictions on immigration. Graham's insightful interpretation of the unintended consequences of these policies is original and controversial.