Power in the City - (Studies in Government and Public Policy) by Marion Orr & Valerie C Johnson (Paperback)

About the Book

A collection of thirteen essays--considered "classics" in the field of urban politics--from leading scholar Clarence Stone, with new essays by the editors and by Stone himself that contextualize the impact of his previous works and suggest new directions for researchers.

Book Synopsis

A leading theorist in urban politics, Clarence Stone redefined the field with his prize-winning book Regime Politics and is now acknowledged as the father of "regime analysis." Over the course of four decades, he has examined political power and leadership, race and politics, and the politics of social reform in urban settings through writings that have critiqued, debated, and recast large questions about democracy and inequality.

This book collects ten classic articles and essays by Stone to create a succinct reader in urban politics. It encompasses theoretical work on urban political power; examinations of political leadership in community politics; considerations of race, class, and political power in Atlanta; and writings on the politics of social reform and urban regeneration. These pieces provide a model for integrating empiricism with theory, offer Stone's own reflections on his theory, and demonstrate the evolution of his thought.

The volume also features three new pieces. The editors' introduction provides an insightful assessment of the place of urban politics in political science and an overview of Stone's contributions to the field. Stone himself provides a brand new essay that paints a vision for a new urban agenda, using the regime concept as a base on which to build for the future. And Jennifer Hochschild's concluding chapter assesses Stone's work and lays out alternative perspectives, locating his scholarship within political science and pointing out its many strengths as well as some of its omissions.

This collection reminds those interested in discourse about democracy, representation, inequality, justice, and power of the advantages that studying cities can bring to these important issues. It also serves to redirect urbanists to important foundational aspects of the urban regime framework and will stand as the legacy of the most influential theorist in his field.

Review Quotes

"Clarence Stone's research on urban power and civic capacity is foundational; he has no peer. This book will instantly become an essential reference work not only for scholars, but for all those interested in the dynamics of power and the possibilities for change."--Dennis Judd, coauthor of City Politics

"An invaluable addition to the library of all urbanists and especially to those who entered the field because of a commitment to social justice."--Susan S. Fainstein, author of The City Builders

"A genuine tour de force that captures the essence of Clarence Stone's unique urban scholarship."--Wilbur C. Rich, author of Black Mayors and School Politics