Urban Politics and Urban Public Policy

This course is designed as an introduction to the politics of the United States’ central cities. A central theme of the course is that city politics in the United States arises from the intersection of governmental power and private resources. The first section of the course describes the emergence of urban America. The second section of the course focuses on the variety of theoretical perspectives and analytical concepts that have evolved to explain the politics of America’s major cities. The goal is to compare the major theories in urban politics that purport to explain power and decision-making. The final section inquires into the nature of the urban condition with particular emphasis on the political and economic challenges faced by city residents and city government in the post-industrial city. The course is designed for first-year and second-year students.