UMass Boston

Course Overview

Description

The course introduces students to the role of public governance, and the group conflicts that swirl around it, in shaping cities and urban regions - with particular attention to local economic development policies, racial and ethnic politics, and challenges in governing fragmented metropolis. Students will understand ways decisions are made in urban contexts. Key topics examined in the course include the evolution of city politics, racial and ethnic segregation, gentrification, urban revitalization, large-scale infrastructure investments, education, health, policing and community relationships, informality, and contemporary efforts to achieve "smart" growth at large scale. Crosscutting themes include the special role of business in local governance; citizen participation; equity issues in urban place making; the costs and benefits of local government fragmentation; and contending theories about the balance of forces in the U.S. urban politics.