A New Framework for Urban Political Development

• In Event: Participation and Policy Responsiveness in Cities

Abstract

Cities are in a constant state of flux. Myriad changes—social, political, economic—can be identified at any particular time. But how might scholars differentiate between small-scale, fleeting changes and more substantial, decisive, and lasting change? This paper draws on the conceptual tools utilized in the subfield of American political development to argue that the notion of urban political development—both with respect to “durable shifts in government authority” and to consequential ideational or discursive shifts —can help scholars to identify major, politically consequential shifts that occur at the urban level. It will further argue that urban political development is driven by “intercurrent” clashes among competing urban political “orders,” which are understood as political coalitions, driven by overarching purposes (or ideas) and that capture control of governing institutions. Building on insights of urban scholars Clarence Stone and Joel Rast, and on the collaborative work done with my colleague Richardson Dilworth, the aim of this paper is to conceptualize urban change theoretically. In particular, the paper aims to advance our thinking about urban change by constructing a framework that will illustrate the conditions under which ideationally-led urban political development is likely to occur.

Authors

• Timothy Weaver, SUNY, University at Albany

• Richardson Dilworth, Drexel University