Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Arizona Firestorm: Global Immigration Realities, National Media, and Provincial Politics

In 2010, the governor of Arizona signed a controversial immigration bill (SB 1070) that led to a news media frenzy, copycat bills in twenty-two states, and a U.S. Supreme Court battle that put Arizona at the cross-hairs of the immigration debate. Arizona Firestorm brings together well-respected experts from across the political spectrum to examine and contextualize the political, economic, historical, and legal issues prompted by this and other anti-Latino and anti-immigrant legislation and state actions. It also addresses the news media's role in shaping immigration discourse in Arizona and around the globe. Arizona is a case study of the roots and impact of the 21st century immigration challenge. Arizona Firestorm will be of interest to scholars and students in communication, public policy, state politics, federalism, and anyone interested in immigration policy or Latino politics. Review By linking today's news with Arizona's history and analysis this book shows how the important border, immigration and education firestorms now sweeping the state and beyond have been smoldering for years. Too often these issues have been overlooked or misrepresented by scholars or reporters trying to explain the state, which makes this book a "must read."--Félix Gutiérrez, University of Southern California In their just released volume, Otto Santa Ana and Celeste González de Bustamante, coeditors of Arizona Firestorm, assembled top scholars in the fields of globalization, economics, immigration law, ethnic studies, education, and news media. The scholars cover critical aspects of Arizona's antiimmigrant politics that the media didn't. They explain the factors that compel immigrants to leave their homelands; they lay out the historical context behind Arizona's political acts, and consequences of these actions; and they describe the media's role in shaping national opinion about the subject...Juan González, Democracy Now radio co-host, writes that Arizona Firestorm is 'timely and remarkable' and that its 'most important contribution could well be its examination of how news media...have failed to provide ordinary Americans... adequate facts and context to understand this enormous movement of peoples between the two countries.'--The San Fernando Valley Sun Reading Arizona Firestorm: Global Immigration Realities, National Media, and Provincial Politics, a scholarly compendium that explores in depth the fears, anxieties, myths and lies that resulted in SB 1070, Proposition 200 (the 2004 voter-ID law), the fight to kill ethnic studies in Tucson and the general anti-immigrant, racist atmosphere that still prevails in Jan Brewer's Arizona, I was struck by one essential truth: They can't win.... Arizona Firestorm is an essential book for our times. I'd suggest that it should be read in our public schools...--Tuscon Weekly The editors have brought together pieces by different authors into a coherent whole that sheds light on the political context that gave rise to SB 1070 and other repressive legislation in Arizona and in other states. Overall, the book informs interested readers on the critical dimensions of the migration of families and workers from south of the border to this country. The editors emphasize the logic of global capitalism as a key feature behind global migration. Overall, this is an outstanding volume on one of the most important challenges facing the nation today.--NEXO: The Official Newsletter of the Julian Samora Research Institue This timely, well-documented and edifying book should itself serve as a firestorm, provoking numerous discussions that enlighten understanding of the causes and consequences of ill-conceived immigration policies. The authors provide superb in-depth analyses of the history and contexts that led to Arizona Senate Bill 1070, including the racially charged manipulations of public sentiments, opinions and votes. Of particular value is the presentation of how different media--gene