Capitolized: Legitimacy and Homomorphism in U.S. State Capitol Construction, 1785 to 1965

• In Event: 40420 - Section on Political Sociology Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 1: Politics and Democracy

Abstract

This study explores the social processes behind the construction of U.S. state capitol buildings, examining the discursive logics and power dynamics underlying how architectural forms are chosen and reproduced despite varying, idiosyncratic state- and historical contexts. By analyzing the socio-institutional processes and priorities underlying capitol construction via a comparative-historical analysis of twelve state capitol constructions from 1785 to 1965, the research argues that a coherent vision for representing legitimate authority drives the production of homomorphic spaces of government. This study contributes to understanding the role of power and political symbolism in shaping architectural iconography, tangible spaces of politics, and their impact on democratic processes and imaginaries.

Author

• Amienne Spencer-Blume, Johns Hopkins University