Urban
Politics
Poli 213, Fall
2006
Phone: 201-200-3259
Email:
fmoran@njcu.edu
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W, 10-11:50 |
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5-6 pm; T, 11 am-noon W 89-9 am; noon-1 pm |
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II. Materials
Our textbook for the course is:
Judd, Dennis R. and Todd Swanstrom. 2006. City Politics: The Political Economy of Urban America. Pearson/Longman.
I also recommend that you become fairly regular readers of the New York Times and one of the local papers in your area (e.g., The Jersey Journal, the Star-Ledger, Bergen Record, etc.) The Times is readily available around campus (it’ll cost you a buck, although you can read it for free in the library).You can also read it for free on-line at:
When you first visit the Times site you will be asked to register a username and password. It can be a pain to do, but the service itself is free.
III. Requirements
The basic requirements for the grade in this course fall into two broad areas: examinations and participation in the simulation (described below).
To do well in each of these aspects of the course, you are asked and expected to complete a fair amount of reading (usually between 25 and 50 pages a week; excluding the newspaper) and to attend class on a regular basis.
Midterm Exam (20%)
The midterm exam will be a take-home affair, due sometime towards the middle of October. I’ll distribute the questions sometime in early October and you’ll have at least 2 weeks to complete the exam. You will be asked to submit somewhere between 7 and 10 pages of writing. The grading rubric will be distributed with the exam.
Final Exam (35%)
The final exam will be held in class and given at the date and time designated by the University (Friday, 15 December at 10:30 in K646). If you cannot make that time due to some emergency, I will offer some alternative dates (well, date ... Monday, 18 December). It will be essay format and you will receive a study guide well in advance of the exam.
IV. Meeting Schedule
6 September: Introduction
Reading: Pick up the textbook mentioned above.
For this first week we’ll review the structure and content of the course and refresh ourselves as to the basics of American political life – particularly the idea of federalism – and the role and place of urban government within that federal system.
11-13 Sept: City Politics: An Overview
Reading: Judd, Chapter 1
We begin our study with a quick overview of the current state of urban life in the United States, drawing special attention to the economic, social, and racial inequalities of our urban areas and suggest a tentative explanation for why our cities are failing.
18- 20 Sept: Evolution of Urban Life
Reading: Judd, chap. 2
This week we’ll explore the historical development of American cities, paying particular attention to the socio-economic structure of the city at various points in that development and its impact on the corresponding political systems.
25 - 27 Sept: Machines & Reforms
Reading: Judd, chps. 3, 4
Questions about the distribution of power within urban areas and of the relative power of local authorities within a national political system have been central to American political life since the Revolution. This week we explore the competing theories offered for settling these questions.
2-11 Oct: Federal Urban Policy I
Reading: Judd, chp. 5, 6
For the next two weeks we’ll study the changing relationship between the federal government and urban governments in the U.S. from FDR’s “New Deal” through the start of LBJ’s “Great Society.”
16 -25 Oct: Federal Urban Policy II
Reading: Judd, chap. 7
These weeks will be devoted to more recent federal involvement with urban life; particularly the changes made during the Reagan years and the impact of those changes through subsequent administrations.
30 Oct – 1 Nov: Cities in Crisis
Reading: Judd, chap. 9
This will likely be one of the more exciting sections of the course insofar as the power relations – and consequences of those relations – within urban political systems is so much more blatant and stark than it is at the national level.
6 – 8 Nov: Suburbia and Sprawl
Reading: Judd, chap. 10, 11
Suburbia is one of the unique features of American metropolitan areas. For these two weeks we’ll examine the evolution of this phenomena and its impact – both in terms of problems created and opportunities presented – on urban government.
13 – 15 Nov: City Finances
Reading: Judd, chap. 12
City finances are the lifeblood of urban politics. Unlike the federal government, city governments are not allowed to run budget deficits. This means that financial health profoundly shapes the options available for these governments and the prospects for success.
20 – 29 Nov: Reviving the Cities
Reading: Judd, chp. 9
For these sessions we’ll examine recent suggestions, programs, and innovations to try to revive decaying urban areas. In particular, we will examine the ways in which these efforts impact various populations within the urban landscape. For instance, what happens to poorer residents when urban areas gentrify? Does city government have an obligation to ensure low-income housing?
4- 11 Dec: The Future of American Cities
Reading: Judd, chps. 14, 15
Where are urban areas heading? Can sprawl be contained? Can urban cores be revitalized? Given economic and technological development, are cities necessary any longer?
13 December: Review and Conclusion
Okay, so this one really is less a review and more like an extra class in case we fall behind.
15 December: Final Exam
Note: This is a Friday. I didn’t pick the date/time; the good folks at the Registrar’s office handled all of that. Direct your complaints thataway.