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The Government and Cities in America
GOVT265 SP

Why do we have the cities we do? Is government the cause of our urban problems? Can it provide solutions to them? This course will examine the political economy of public policy in American cities. It will emphasize the importance of power, economic change, institutional arrangements and race in urban policy making. We will investigate elite interests in public policy and grassroots attempts to influence policy outcomes. Case studies of specific cities and specific policies as well as more theoretical approaches will serve as the basis for class discussions. Alternative perspectives on these issues will be stressed.

MAJOR READINGS

Yates, THE UNGOVERNABLE CITY Deleon, LEFT COAST CITY, PROGRESSIVE POLITICS IN SAN FRANCISCO Feagin, FREE ENTERPRISE CITY, HOUSTON IN POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE Ruivlin, FIRE ON THE PRAIRIE, CHICAGO'S HAROLD WASHINGTON AND THE POLITICS OF RACE Portes and Stepick, CITY ON THE EDGE, THE TRANSFORMATION OF MIAMI

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Midterm and final. Short, analytic papers on reading assignments. Participation in group assignments on policy issues.

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS GOVT    Grading Mode: Student Option   

Prerequisites: GOVT151 OR GOVT229

Last Updated on MAR-24-2000

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