Western Times and Water Wars: State, Culture, and Rebellion in California
The Owens Valley communities of eastern California and their battles with the city of Los Angeles concerning water rights is a classic example of territorial conflicts. Walton presents a historical and sociological study of this largely unsuccessful battle in a community in which violence, rebellion, political activity, and state domination have been a fact of life since 1920. Walton guides the reader through conquest of Native Americans in the Owens Valley, the building of a pioneer economy, conflicts among ethnic groups and social classes, and the struggle to regain their lost dignity through collective action. His analysis shows how the expansion of a state's administrative and coercive power can undermine the autonomy of a local community by placing it in the hands of politicians, bureaucracies, and those with privileged access to state agencies. This book should be required reading for small communities involved in turf wars with nearby urban areas.- Irwin Weintraub, Rutgers Univ. Libs., Piscataway, N.J.Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.