Covering key issues ranging from education to political mobilization to racial stratification, this book provides a comprehensive examination of the Obama Presidency.

President Barack Obama’s election and subsequent reelection represent a critical paradigm shift in American political history. But will there be lasting effects of the election of an African American to the highest office in the land in terms of the United States’ economic, educational, political and social realities? A valuable resource for undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, state and federal policymakers, and general readers, this book poses critical questions and offers insightful answers from expert contributors, provides a balanced critique of President Obama’s accomplishments and challenges, and considers the national and international impact President Obama’s tenure had on politics.

The numerous contributors to this book provide a range of perspectives on President Obama’s presidency that question conventional thinking, covering key issues that include health care, education, political mobilization, gender, racial stratification, voting patterns, and criminal justice. Readers will come away with a heightened comprehension of the complex relationships between political structures, economic policies, and minority interests; how Congress, traditional and contemporary activists, and domestic and international issues all shaped the Obama Presidency; and how micro and macro issues such as voting rights, voting patterns, and Get Out the Vote (GOTV) initiatives are connected.

Investigates linkages among micro and macro political issues, including voting rights, patterns, and Get Out the Vote (GOTV) initiatives

Provides a fair and balanced examination of the challenges Obama encountered across his two terms in office

Considers the short- and long-term impacts Obama’s presidency had on race relations

Spotlights the hot topics of race and ethnicity in politics, particularly in light of the Obama presidency and frequent conflicts and discussions regarding race