This book is the only published history focused on government in the Sooner State. Beginning with the elections of the territorial era, the authors narrate a definitive account of state politics through the early 1960s. A final chapter traces the contours of contemporary public affairs, identifying the chief elements that shape today's politics. Every major election in the state's history is included in the book, as well as biographical sketches of the state's foremost political figures. Further, the authors relate the recurrent controversies of the statehouse, where gubernatorial initiatives have often clashed with legislative ambitions. Appropriate attention is also given to the state's role in national affairs. Although comprehensive in scope, Oklahoma Politics is more than a compendium of political data. The authors view the history of the commonwealth as something of a model for understanding the evolution of state politics in general during this century. Oklahoma fits that purpose ideally. Born amid the Progressive reformation of traditional state government, the state has been host to every major subsequent force in American state politics. Grassroots agrarian radicalism, a potent Ku Klux Klan, the turmoil of the Great Depression, the post-World War II revolution in the federal relationship, the emergence of modern Republican conservatism--all these have made Oklahoma a laboratory of political change. Aware of the scholarly literature of political scientists and historians of other states, the authors have incorporated many of their findings to develop a new perspective from which to view Oklahoma's political history. Yet the color and excitement of state politics have not been lost in this careful analysis of how the system has evolved. The result is a book that speaks to those Oklahomans--indeed, those Americans--who seek to understand how state politics works or, on occasion, why it does not.

Oklahoma is a plains state exemplifying the Middle American virtues of family, lodge, and church; a southern state in the path of the power shift from the indus-trial East to the energy-rich sunbelt; a western state of modern cowboys and rodeos. Small wonder its political culture is so varied. The authors of Oklahoma Politics and Policies contend that Oklahoma is a paradox?a state struggling for a clear sense of identity where the old and new vie for the allegiance of its citizens. ø David R. Morgan, Robert E. England, and George O. Humphreys examine the history of Oklahoma and the place of Native Americans in this former Indian Territory; the state's links to the federal government; its executive, legislative, and judicial systems; political parties and interest groups; local government; and the current policy issues that confront its citizens. They assess the attempts of Oklahomans to revive their economy. The 1990s will be bright, the authors sug-gest, if Oklahomans can put aside internal conflicts and the politics of negativism in approaching economic and social problems more pragmatically.

"Blood Politics offers an anthropological analysis of contemporary identity politics within the second largest Indian tribe in the United States--one that pays particular attention to the symbol of "blood." The work treats an extremely sensitive topic with originality and insight. It is also notable for bringing contemporary theories of race, nationalism, and social identity to bear upon the case of the Oklahoma Cherokee."—Pauline Turner Strong, author of Captive Selves, Captivating Others: The Politics and Poetics of Colonial American Captivity Narratives

Negotiation, understood simply as “working things out by talking things through,” is often anything but simple for Native nations engaged with federal, state, and local governments to solve complex issues, promote economic and community development, and protect and advance their legal and historical rights. Power Balance builds on traditional Native values and peacemaking practices to equip tribes today with additional tools for increasing their negotiating leverage. As cofounder and executive director of the Indian Dispute Resolution Service, author Steven J. Haberfeld has worked with Native tribes for more than forty years to help resolve internal differences and negotiate complex transactions with governmental, political, and private-sector interests. Drawing on that experience, he combines Native ideas and principles with the strategies of “interest-based negotiation” to develop a framework for overcoming the unique structural challenges of dealing with multilevel government agencies. His book offers detailed instructions for mastering six fundamental steps in the negotiating process, ranging from initial planning and preparation to hammering out a comprehensive, written win-win agreement. With real-life examples throughout, Power Balance outlines measures tribes can take to maximize their negotiating power—by leveraging their special legal rights and historical status and by employing political organizing strategies to level the playing field in obtaining their rightful benefits. Haberfeld includes a case study of the precedent-setting negotiation between the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe and four federal agencies that resolved disputes over land, water, and other natural resource in Death Valley National Park in California. Bringing together firsthand experience, traditional Native values, and the most up-to-date legal principles and practices, this how-to book will be an invaluable resource for tribal leaders and lawyers seeking to develop and refine their negotiating skills and strategies.