Political Science 422: Urban Politics
Spring 2015
Instructor: Brian Adams
e-mail: badams@mail.sdsu.edu
Phone: 594-4289
Office: Nasatir Hall 122
Office Hours: Tuesdays 10:30-noon, Thursdays 9:00-10:00 am and 3:30-5:00 pm, and by
appointment.
Learning Outcomes
 Identify the structure and organization of local governments in the United States.
 Develop analytical skills by writing essays addressing key issues in urban politics
 Identify the effects of the built environment on politics and society.
 Develop research skills through a research paper on comparative urban politics.
 Learn how to assess who holds power within local governments.
 Learn how to analyze urban policy issues.
Readings:
Dreier, Peter, John Mollenkopf and Todd Swanstrom (2014). Place Matters (third edition).
University Press of Kansas. Note the second edition is almost 10 years old and out of date, so be sure
to get the third edition.
Articles and book chapters available through the course blackboard website.
Just for fun: This course has an “official soundtrack” comprising of songs about cities. If you use
Spotify, search for a playlist called “Political Science 422 Urban Politics.” If you have any
suggestions for additional (good) songs about cities, please pass them along.
Assignments
First essay (due February 20th): 25%
Second essay (due March 20th): 20%
Research paper (due April 24th): 25%
Final examination (May 14th): 30%
Class participation is not a formal part of your grade but I may give students who participate
extensively in class discussions extra credit.
A few notes on the assignments:
 There is no curve in this class; students will be given the grade that they earn.
 Students will receive letter grades on all the assignments, which will be converted to a 100point scale to calculate a course grade.
 To receive a passing grade, a student must pass all four assignments (in other words, an “F”
on any one of the assignments will result in a failing grade for the class).
 All written assignments will be submitted electronically to Turnitin, which is run through
blackboard. The papers will be graded and returned electronically as well.
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You will receive prompts for the essays approximately one week before they are due. You
will receive a prompt for the research paper at least 3 or 4 weeks before it is due.
There are two types of readings on blackboard. Book chapters can be downloaded directly in
a .pdf format. For journal articles, you will find a link to the article that will take you to a
library database. From that database you can download the article in a .pdf format.
All reading assignments are required.
The final will be an in-class blue-book exam consisting of identification and essay questions.
Course Outline
Note: the instructor reserves the right to change assignment dates and content. All changes will be
announced in class and through e-mail.
All readings other than the Dreier, Mollenkopf and Swanstrom book can be found on the Blackboard
course website. Note that I do not always assign all the pages in an article or book chapter.
Week 1 (January 22nd): Introduction
Week 2 (January 27th and 29th): Machine and reform politics
Readings:
1. Judd, Dennis R. and Todd Swanstrom (2008). City Politics: The Political Economy of
Urban America. Pearson Longman. chapters 3 and 4.
Week 3 (February 3rd and 5th): The organization of local government and suburbanization
Readings:
1. Neiman, Max (2013). “Local Government: Designing and Financing The Cities and
Counties of California.” In Ethan Rarick, ed. Governing California (3rd ed.). Berkeley Public
Policy Press. Pages 329-361.
2. Place Matters, pages 175-188
Week 4 (February 10th and 12th): Regionalism
Readings:
1. Place Matters, 237-269 and 270-284.
2. Dahl, Robert A. (1967). “The City in the Future of Democracy” American Political
Science Review 61: 953-960 and 963-967.
Week 5 (February 17th and 19th): The politics of land use and redevelopment, part I
Readings:
1. Eisinger, Peter (2000). “The Politics of Bread and Circuses.” Urban Affairs Review 35, 3:
pp. 316-333.
2. Deener, Andrew et al. (2013). “Planning Los Angeles: The Changing Politics of
Neighborhood and Downtown Development.” In David Halle and Andrew A. Beveridge
(eds.). New York and Los Angeles: The Uncertain Future. Oxford University Press. Pages
385-412.
First essay due February 20th (sumbit to Turnitin anytime)
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Week 6 (February 24th and 26th): The politics of land use and redevelopment, part II
Readings
1. Coates, Dennis (2007). “Stadiums and Arenas: Economic Development or Economic
Redistribution?” Contemporary Economic Policy 25, 4: 565-577.
2. Erie, Steven P., Vladimir Kogan and Scott A. MacKenzie (2011). Paradise Plundered:
Fiscal Crises and Governance Failures in San Diego Stanford University Press. Pages 176211.
Week 7 (March 3rd and 5th): Urban sprawl and transportation policy, part I
Reading: Place Matters, pages 1-102.
Week 8 (March 10th and 12th): Urban sprawl and transportation policy, part II
Readings:
1. Place Matters, pages 103-135.
2. Bruegmann, Robert (2008). “Sprawl and Accessibility.” Journal of Transport and Land
Use 1, 1: 5-11.
Week 9 (March 17th and 19th): Housing
Readings:
1. Less, Loretta, Tom Slater and Elvin Wyly (2008). Gentrification. Routledge. Pages 195221.
2. Beveridge, Andrew A. et al. (2013). “Residential Diversity and Division: Separation and
Segregation Among Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Affluent, and Poor.” In David Halle
and Andrew A. Beveridge (eds.). New York and Los Angeles: The Uncertain Future. Oxford
University Press. Pp. 310-339.
Second essay due March 20th (submit to Turnitin anytime)
Week 10 (March 24th and 26th): Cities in a federal system
Readings:
1. Place Matters, pages 136-174
2. Riverstone-Newell, Lori (2014). Renegade Cities, Public Policy, and the Dilemmas of
Federalism. First Forum Press. Pages 1-14.
Week 11 (April 7th and 9th): The urban power debate
Readings:
1. Mossberger, Karen (2009). “Urban Regime Analysis.” In Jonathan S. Davies and David L.
Imbroscio, eds. Theories of Urban Politics (2nd edition). Sage. Pages 40-54.
2. Place Matters, pages 192-236
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Week 12 (April 14th and 16th): Local elections
Readings:
1. Trounstine, Jessica (2010). “Representation and Accountability in Cities.” Annual Review
of Political Science 13: 407-423.
Week 13 (April 21st and 23rd): Citizen participation in local politics
Readings:
1. Berry, Jeffrey M. (2010). “Urban Interests Groups.” In L. Sandy Maisel and Jeffrey M.
Berry, eds. American Political Parties and Interest Groups. Oxford University Press. Pages
502-515.
2. Scally, Corianne Payton (2012). “The Nuances of NIMBY: Context and Perceptions of
Affordable Rental Housing Development.” Urban Affairs Review 49, 5: 718-747.
Research paper due April 24th (submit to Turnitin anytime)
Week 14 (April 28th and 30th): Urban crime and policing
Readings:
1. Wilson, James Q. and George L. Kelling (1989). “Making Neighborhoods Safe.” The
Atlantic Monthly 263, 2: pages 46-53.
2. Skogan, Wesley G. (2006). “The Promise of Community Policing.” In David Weisbund
and Anthony A. Braga (eds.). Police Innovation: Contrasting Perspectives. Cambridge
University Press. Pages 27-41.
Week 15 (May 5th and May 7th): Urban poverty
Reading: Sidney, Mara S. (2009). “Poverty, Inequality, and Social Inclusion.” In Jonathan S.
Davies and David L. Imbroscio, eds. Theories of Urban Politics (2nd edition). Sage. Pages
171-187.
Final Exam: Thursday, May 14th, 10:30-12:30
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