Through Another Lens: American Democracy Viewed through Race/Ethnicity and Subnational Institutions

odney Hero's intellectual work tracks some of the most significant political, social, and economic changes in recent American life.While the work is broad in scope and analytically intensive, it consistently refl ects his concern with the "American Dilemma"-the persistent if changing dynamics of race and inequality in a liberal polity.In addressing this question, his work thoughtfully re-examines basic assumptions about pluralism and inter group politics, federalism, political institutions, political culture, and social capital.With a wide breadth of knowledge and continuing curiosity, Hero has made signifi cant scholarly contributions in a broad range of subfi elds in the discipline: racial and ethnic politics, state politics, urban politics, public policy, US Congressional politics, federalism, and more.In addition to his reputation for innovative theoretical development, his scholarly contributions are distinctly multimethod and theoretically grounded in the classic questions confronting political science: power, representation, equality, democratic practice.Colleagues, coauthors, and students alike characterize Hero in vivid terms: a strong intellectual curiosity and insight, an understanding of the importance of asking big-picture questions and seeking answers through solid empirics, a contextualist and relational perspective, an openminded and generous collaborator, and a committed, engaged mentor.As noted later in the text , when viewed in the context of exceptional service to his universities, communities, and the discipline, this presence and his scholarly contributions are remarkable.