Cities, Change, and Conflict: A Political Economy of Urban Life

by Nancy Kleniewski, Alexander R. Thomas, Gregory Fulkerson

Overview

Cities, Change, and Conflict was one of the first texts to embrace the perspective of political economy as its main explanatory framework, and then complement it with the rich contributions of human ecology as well as perspectives derived from critical approaches to social theory. Although its primary focus is on North American cities, the book contains several chapters on cities in other parts of the world, including the Global North and Global South. It provides both historical and contemporary accounts of the impact of globalization on urban development and urban institutions.

This sixth edition features a new, groundbreaking chapter on the relationship between the physical environment and human settlements, including the urban-rural nexus. This edition also expands and updates coverage of recent trends such as the establishment and evolution of gay neighborhoods, the suburbanization of immigrant groups, the situation of the immigrant youth known as “Dreamers,” the reverse migration of Blacks from the North to the South, and the proliferation of exurban communities.

Beyond examining the dynamics that shape the form and functionality of cities, the text surveys the experience of urban life among different social groups, including a new perspective on intersectionality as it affects people’s experiences in cities. It illuminates the workings of the urban economy, local and federal governments, and the criminal justice system while addressing policy debates and decisions that affect almost every aspect of urbanization and urban life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032566016
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/28/2024
Edition description:	6th ed.
Pages:	374
Product dimensions:	6.88(w) x 9.69(h) x (d)

About the Author

Nancy Kleniewski retired as President of the State University of New York at Oneonta in 2018. After receiving her PhD from Temple University, she served as Professor of Sociology at SUNY Geneseo, Dean of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and Provost at Bridgewater State University. She is the author or editor of five books and numerous articles on urban issues and urban policy and is the former chair of the Urban Affairs Association.

 

Alexander R. Thomas is Professor of Sociology at the State University of New York at Oneonta. He received his PhD from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts and has gone on to author or co-author 9 books, including In Gotham’s Shadow, City and Country, and Urbanormativity, as well as 4 edited volumes and a number of refereed articles. His current research focuses on the historical development of cities and on the impact of COVID-19 on populations.

Table of Contents

Part I. Thinking About Cities

1. Examining Urban Issues
2. Theoretical Perspectives on the City
3. Cities and the Environment

Part II. The Changing City: Historical and Comparative Perspectives

4. Cities in World History
5. Urban Development in the United States
6. Cities, Suburbs, and Metropolitan Areas
7. Cities in the Global North
8. Cities in the Global South

Part III. Change and Conflict: Urban Social Groups

9. Immigrants in Urban Areas
10. Black Americans in Cities
11. Social Class and Neighborhoods
12. Women, Gender, and Urban Life

Part IV. Change and Conflict: Urban Institutions

13. Urban Economy and Politics
14. Urban Unrest and Social Control
15. Urban Policy and Planning