“Gerrymandering” the subject of new book by C-N professor

It’s a topic seen in today’s headlines, but it’s a subject with a long history. A new book by Carson-Newman University’s Dr. Kara Stooksbury outlines the history and ongoing questions surrounding gerrymandering.

Released this month by Bloomsbury Publishing, “Gerrymandering and American Politics” is a reference handbook and the culmination of several years of work by the C-N professor of political science. Prior to the new release, Stooksbury, who also chairs the University’s History and Political Science Department, authored the 2023 book “Today’s Civil Rights and Liberties Issues: Democrats and Republicans.”

“As I was finishing my last book three years ago, my editor asked if I would be interested in writing about this topic,” Stooksbury said. “Given the significant role of the US Supreme Court and the recent concerns about voting rights in the United States, I thought that writing this book would give me the opportunity to learn more about gerrymandering. More specifically, I had the opportunity to learn more about its history and proposed solutions.”

Stooksbury said the book entailed two years of research and writing, along with other contributors with Carson-Newman connections.

“I hope that the book provides some context for understanding how we got here, along with the impact of gerrymandering,” she noted. “I also hope that it shows readers that there are solutions to addressing this issue. However, since both political parties benefit from gerrymandering, neither really has an incentive to end it.”

Stooksbury’s book, “Gerrymandering and American Politics,” is available through Amazon and other online book retailers.