Power from Powerlessness: Tribal Governments, Institutional Niches, and American Federalism

Most tribal officials operate with meager resources and serve impoverished communities with stark political disadvantages.

Yet we find examples of Indian tribes persuading states, localities, and the federal government to pursue policy change that addresses important tribal concerns. How is it that Indian tribes sometimes succeed against very dim prospects?

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In Power from Powerlessness, Laura Evans looks at the successful policy interventions by a range of American Indian tribal governments and explains how disadvantaged groups can exploit niches in the institutional framework of American federalism to obtain unlikely victories. Tribes have also been adept at building productive relationships with governmental authorities at all levels.

Admittedly, many of the tribes' victories are small when viewed on their own: However, Evans shows that in combination, their victories are impressive-particularly when considering that the poverty rate among American Indians on reservations is 39 percent.

Not simply a book about American Indian politics, Power from Powerlessness forces scholars of institutions and inequality to reconsider the commonly held view that the less powerful are in fact powerless. Quiet, Yet Ever-Constant Advocacy: Expertise and "Soft" Disempowerment: Channels of Access, Frames for Persuasion: Yet we find examples of Indian tribes persuading states, lo Yet we find examples of Indian tribes persuading states, localities, and the federal government to pursue policy change that addresses important tribal concerns.

How is it that Indian tribes sometimes succeed against very dim odds? To answer this question, this book brings together ideas about the politics of the powerless and about political institutions. The book illustrates how political underdogs can build particular types of external relationships—that is termed in this book institutional niches—to provide small but needed subsidies for cultivating expertise, which then provide unobtrusive foundations for future political victories.

Disadvantaged groups do not suddenly begin winning high-profile battles.

Instead, the effects are indirect, of low visibility, and far flung throughout the federalist system. In isolation, each new quiet success seems unremarkable; cumulatively, the effects are impressive. American Indian , institutions , federalism , race , politics , policy , tribal government.

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Don't have an account? Evans looks at the successful policy interventions by a range of American Indian tribal governments and explains how disadvantaged groups can exploit niches in the institutional framework of American federalism to obtain unlikely victories.

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