Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Providing a comprehensive overview of the main theories which structure debate on urban politics, the internationally respected contributors to this textbook provide a clear and coherent account which is organized around four major questions.
The first part looks at issues of power and examines both traditional and recent theories of power in cities. The nature of public bureaucracy and those officials that have a leadership role within city government are discussed in the second part. The third part examines the ways that citizens are involved in the process of urban politics. The final part seeks to place urban politics in terms of the social economic environment and the complex architecture of government in which it has
Synopsis
Theories of Urban Politics presents an excellent survey on the current state of the theoretical debate in urban political science. Comprehensive in its approach, this masterful volume explores such salient issues as citizen involvement in the processes of urban politics, urban social movements, political leadership in urban politics, local government organization, traditional and more recent theories of power in cities, feminist theory, the nature of public bureaucracy, and urban politics in terms of the social economic environment and the complex architecture of government in which it operates. This book is essential reading for all serious scholars and students of urban studies and local government. "The authors include many of the most reflective observers, and the coverage is eclectic, ranging from feminism to public choice, from Marxism to pluralism. In addition, the authors reprise many disputes from earlier decades so that in toto the volume provides a wide sampling of postwar urban scholarship as it works toward a better understanding of past, present, and future metropolises. Recommended for all four-year and graduate institutions." --Choice "In short, this is a very serviceable book." --Canadian Journal of Urban Research