Department
of Political Science
University of California
Fall 1995
POLITICAL
SCIENCE 172
URBAN POLITICS AND POLICIES:
STRUGGLES FOR POWER IN LOS ANGELES
This course will examine a question that touches upon extremes of greatness and despair: the nature of power and politics in American cities. In some ways, American cities are the biggest and best in the world, producing an extraordinary cultural and economic output that is highly influential in even the remotest corners of the planet. Yet, our cities are also notorious as places of murder and mayhem, where total breakdowns of civil order periodically occur, and where German and Japanese tourists occasionally, and regrettably, meet their demise. In contrast to European cities, American cities are wild, unplanned, and highly creative, but often violent and highly inequitable. It is this peculiar situation that we will try to understand in this course.
The themes we will explore include: how and why the promise of American democracy has often been squandered (and sometimes realized) in our cities; how American cultural values and institutional structures pose obstacles to effective urban governance; how the conflicts between the values of social equality and individual freedom constrain decision- making; how individual decisions often lead to unwanted and dysfunctional outcomes; and how the system of private enterprise both imprisons and empowers urban policymakers. These themes will be developed first through a discussion of the historical development of urban politics in the unique conditions of 19th century America, and then through an analysis of current urban problems. We will explore such issues as: racial, ethnic, and class conflict; immigration; poverty; suburbanization; economic restructuring and redevelopment; state and federal relations; institutions of local government; tax and budget policies; the role of political parties and interest groups; and more. A major focus of the course will be on the case of Los Angeles, and to some degree on other cities in southern California. We live in an extraordinary region, at a fascinating time in its history: it will serve us well to study it closely.
Required Readings:
1. Dennis R. Judd and Todd Swanstrom (J&S), City Politics: Private Power and Public Policy.
2. Mike Davis, City of Quartz.
3. Raphael J. Sonenshein, Politics in Black and White: Race and Power in Los Angeles.
4. Course Reader (four articles).
Also, I strongly encourage you to subscribe to the Los Angeles Times, and to at least skim it every day for articles on urban politics, especially in Los Angeles.
SCHEDULE OF LECTURE TOPICS AND READINGS
I. Introduction to the Course: Why Study Urban Politics?
J&S, Preface and Chapter 1; Davis, Prologue; Sonenshein, Preface and Chapter One.
II. How Power Works
Davis, Chapter 2.
Ross, Levine and Stedman, "Decision Making in Local Communities: Who Has the Power?"
G. William Domhoff, "The American Power Structure"
Robert A. Dahl, "A Critique of the Ruling Elite Model"
Bachrach and Botwinick, "The Structural Mobilization of Bias"
III. The Political and Cultural Legacy of the 19th Century
J&S, Chapter 2; Sonenshein, Chapter 2.
IV. Machine Politics: From Boss Tweed to Richard Daley (Sr. and Jr.)
J&S, Chapter 3.
V. The Ambiguous Legacy of Progressive Reform
J&S, Chapter 4.
VI. A New Role for the Cities: The New Deal and Its Consequences
J&S, Chapters 5 and 6.
VII. Cities in Competition: The Quest for Economic Development
J&S, Chapter 13
VIII. The Changing Politics of Race and Class: Beyond Black and White?\
J&S, Chapter 14; Davis, Chapters 5 and 6; Sonenshein, Chapter 9 to end of book (finish entire book).
IX. The "Brady Bunch" Factor: Suburbanization and Its Consequences
J&S, Chapters 8, 9, and 10; Davis, Chapters 3 and 4.
X. The Failure of Public Policy: From the New Federalism to Urban Fiscal Crises
J&S, Chapters 11 and 12. \
XI. Reflections on the Future of Los Angeles: From Baywatch to Blade Runner? \
J&S, Chapter 15; Davis, Chapter 1.