Overview

In Understanding Urban Politics: Institutions, Representation, and Policies, Timothy B. Krebs and Arnold Fleischmann introduce a framework that focuses on the role of institutions in establishing the political “rules of the game,” the representativeness of city government, the influence of participation in local democracy, and how each of these features influences the adoption and implementation of public policies. Part 1 lays the groundwork by exploring the many meanings of “urban,” analyzing what local governments do, and providing a concise history of American urban development. Part 2 examines the organizations and procedures that are central to urban politics and policy making: intergovernmental relations, local legislatures, and the local executive branch. Part 3 looks at elections and voting, local campaigns, and non-electoral forms of participation. The four chapters in Part 4 focus on the policy process and the delivery of local services, local government finances, “Building the City,” and policies affecting the quality of life. Krebs and Fleischmann bolster students’ learning and skills with guiding questions at the start of each chapter, which ends with key terms, a summary, discussion questions, and research exercises. The appendix and website aid these efforts, as does a website for instructors.

Full Product Details

9781538197318

Table of Contents

Reviews

""This is an excellent basic text on local government. Because it has four distinct sections, it can be adapted in a lot of different ways to courses that eventually consider some local/urban issues in depth. Understanding Urban Politics gives any student the background they need to participate in those deeper discussions."" -- Bruce Nesmith, Coe College ""A good text for political science students who do not know a lot about urban politics."" -- Daniel Hummel, University of Louisiana Monroe ""This is a fabulous approach. Students need to see more than ever today how they can have some influence on the political world so they get out of this spirit of apathy and nihilism. If they are able to see that they have the power to work with institutions to change the laws or get the laws they want on the books, they are more likely to want to get and stay involved. The simplicity of how the book shows those four connections working together hopefully will help them to see that getting involved matters."" -- Monica Carter, Chaffey College ""One strength is the breadth of coverage of the book. It does a wonderful job of introducing the main points that need to be covered in an urban politics/policy class. A second strength is the incorporation of exercises and discussion questions. Although they aren’t as distinct as they could be, they provide a guide for students to use to move back through the material and absorb it in a different way. A third strength is the use of boxes to demonstrate/emphasize some of the topics."" -- Patricia Jaramillo, St. Mary’s University ""I like that it provides clear definitions of concepts I know students struggle with. I particularly like its coverage of different types of governments, the inclusion of lgbtq+ issues and environmental politics, as well as its discussion of conflict over values in general."" -- Matthew T. Loveland, Le Moyne College ""Start with the subtitle of the book: Institution, Representation and Policies. This is a book that captures the complexity and diversity of urban politics through an historical and institutional lens that highlights the ways in which politics and policies are shaped by the many different designs and practices that exist in urban communities. With this foundation, the book helps students to explore different forms of representation while also understanding the different policies that emanate for cities. The orientation of the book lends itself to a teaching environment and engagement with students. There are a variety of exercises and activities that are possible based around such themes as citizen participation, representativeness, and institutions. -- John Portz, Northeastern University ""The three main strengths of this book are its structure (it gives a holistic overview of urban politics), its emphasis on the themes of representativeness and participation, and the pedagogical tools it offers, such as the discussion questions. [This is] a great book for an undergraduate course focusing on urban politics. It offers a solid introduction to the development of the field and to key institutions and actors. The book highlights current challenges and debates related to urban politics and policies. It also provides excellent pedagogical tools to aid structured, informative, and stimulating class discussions and activities."" -- Marylena Mantas-Kourounis, Sacred Heart University

Author Information

Timothy B. Krebs is professor of political science at the University of New Mexico, where he joined the faculty in 2002 after four years at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. His teaching includes undergraduate and graduate course in American politics, urban politics, urban management, state and urban policy, and campaigns and elections. Krebs received his B.A. from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and earned his Ph.D. from Loyola University Chicago in 1997. His publications have appeared in the American Journal of Political Science, American Politics Research, Political Research Quarterly, Social Science Quarterly, Urban Affairs Review and other outlets. Arnold Fleischmann is professor of political science at Eastern Michigan University, where he served as department head from 2009 to 2016; prior to that, he taught at the University of Georgia for 26 years. He teaches American Government, State and Local Government, Urban Politics, and State Politics. He is coauthor of The Politics

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