Cities, Change, and Conflict : A Political Economy of Urban Life

Cities, Change, and Conflict was one of the first texts to embrace the perspective of political economy as its main explanatory framework, and then complement it with the rich contributions found in the human ecology perspective. Although its primary focus is on North American cities, the book contains several chapters on cities in other parts of the world, including Europe and developing nations, providing both historical and contemporary accounts on the impact of globalization on urban development. This edition features new coverage of important recent developments affecting urban life, including the implications of racial conflict in Ferguson, Missouri , and elsewhere, recent presidential urban strategies, the new waves of European refugees, the long-term impacts of the Great Recession as seen through the lens of Detroit’s bankruptcy, new and emerging inequalities, and an extended look into Sampson’s Great American City . Beyond examining the dynamics that shape the form and functionality of cities, the text surveys the experience of urban life among different social groups, including immigrants, African Americans,women, and members of different social classes. It illuminates the workings of the urban economy, local and federal governments, and the criminal justice system, and also addresses policy debates and decisions that affect almost every aspect of urbanization and urban life. Contents 6 List of Figures 13 List of Tables 15 List of Boxes 16 Part I: Thinking About Cities 18 1 Examining Urban Issues 20 2 Theoretical Perspectives on the City 38 Part II: The Changing City: Historical and Comparative Perspectives 60 3 Cities in World History 62 4 Urban Development in the United States 83 5 Cities, Suburbs, and Metropolitan Areas 104 6 Cities in Europe 126 7 Cities in the Developing World 150 Part III: Change and Conflict: Urban Social Groups 170 8 Immigrants, Ethnic Groups, and the City 172 9 African Americans in Cities 194 10 Social Class and Neighborhoods 214 11 Women in Cities 235 Part IV: Change and Conflict: Urban Institutions 254 12 The Urban Economy 256 13 Local Government and Finances 276 14 Federal Urban Policy 296 15 Urban Unrest and Social Control 311 Part V: Conclusion 334 16 Planning for the Future of Cities 336 Glossary 357 References 367 Index 393 Cities, Change and Conflict was one of the first texts to embrace the perspective of political economy as its main explanatory framework. Together with the contributions of the human-ecology perspective, this new edition covers recent developments that are shaping cities and urban life: racial conflict, globalization, and emerging inequalities. __Cities, Change, and Conflict____Great American City__