SO4029 Sociology of the City

1. SO4029Sociology of the City Urban Governance & Politics

2. Power, Politics & Policy Power & Resources Functions of Local State/Govt.: Welfare Provision Regulator of Local Economy An intermediary in the formation of collective identity A coercive agent of social order and discipline (Savage et al p.154) Also - Infrastructure, planning, sanitation, local environment etc.

3. The Structure of Urban Politics Politicians Professionals & Bureaucrats The �Parapolitical Structure�: Pressure groups Business organisations Labour & trade union organisations Conservation societies and other special interest groups (Nimby) Homeowner groups and tenants associations Urban Social Movements

4. Theories of Urban Governance Elite Theories � see Machiavalli (16th C.), Pareto, Mosca, political intrigue and cunning, democracy largely illusory; Michels, �Iron Law of Oligarchy� � rule by confederation of those at top of political/organisational tree �Public Choice� � Dahl � �no one group can monopolise power; Arrow(1951); Almond (1990) � local politics needs to be responsive to voters exercising rational choice (see Parker P.120-121) See Parker p.120See Parker p.120

5. Urban Political Economy � (see Castells; Harvey) � neo-Marxist/left liberal perspective � urban political system as a consequence of capitalist/market competition and influence Urban �Growth Machine� � Logan & Molotch � �boosterism� and �growth coalitions� � collective economic elite? Urban Regime Theory � Elkin & Stone � �informal yet relatively stable groups with access to institutional resources� � informal collection of economic elites � urban �movers� and �shakers� Consensus- whether cities are controlled by elite is a matter of debate. However, elites tend to dominate the decision making process in most cities. (see Gottdiener, Savage, Parker) Theories of Urban Governance �Glocal� Governance - �Glocal� Governance - Mention �glocal governance��Glocal� Governance - �Glocal� Governance - Mention �glocal governance�

6. The Changing Nature of Urban Governance 1) Until mid 19th Century � Oligarchy of local bourgeoisie 2) 1850-1910 - Municipal Socialism � public service, paternalism, liberal reform (& corruption) 3) 1910 � 1940 � The depression leads to greater role of local government � housing, health, education, welfare. (Business leaders supplanted by civic minded lower middle classes)

7. The Changing Nature of Urban Governance 4) 1940 -1975 � �Urban Managerialism� (Rex & Moore (1967) � Professionals and Politicians (facilitating the needs of capitalist enterprise while mitigating its negative effects) 5) mid 1970�s � Decline of local government � centralised control and privatization/quasi-marketisation of local services � �civic entrepreneurialism� 6) New Phase of Local Government? � Increasing Public Concerns over Environment & Sustainability (Knox & Pinch, 2000; Savage et al, 2003)

8. Urban �Democracy� Politics in the Industrial City: Parish, Borough & County to Elected Council 1889 (England & Wales) USA �Bossism & Political Machines� �Gerrymandering�

9. Late 19th & Early 20th C. Workforce Needs of Capital/Industry � �Devalorisation� Individual Provision (Market Failures) Bridging the Gap: Public Health (Public �Good�) Education Housing Welfare Transport Legitimation of Local Government Urban Governance & �Collective Consumption� (Castells) Night sewer men 19th c see ByrneNight sewer men 19th c see Byrne

10. The Challenge to Collective Consumption �Fiscal Crisis� of 1970�s � Public wants and tax base out of sync. Erosion of the Tax Base Reproductive self sufficiency v reproductive dependency (�overload� & �dependency�)- (see Saunders, 1986) Thatcherism � Removal of local tax raising powers and spending. Local authorities (labour) seen to be representatives of the �feckless� urban poor spending the taxes of the �hard-working� middle classes. (Similar patter of �Privatism� in USA under Reagan) Transfer of public services to private firms and �quangos� Reduction of Executant role of Local Government (Savage et al, 2003).

11. Political Participation in Local Elections Declining electoral turnout generally, and particularly in local elections < 50% more commonly 25-30%

12. Political Participation Key Reasons for voter apathy� Don�t need to act No point in acting Socio-spatial (Gottdiener): Suburbanisation (see also secessionist movements & �divorce the city�) Centralisation Privatism Globalization � (Effectiveness and Locus of Decision-making)

13. Filling the Gap: Urban Social Movements Alternative cultures Urban street as a locus of conflict Migration, diversity and public protest Castells (1978) � mobilisation for rights to collective consumption Pickvance (1985) � linked sub-model of urban movements 1) Provision and Access to Housing & Urban Services 2) Control and Management of the Urban Environment 3) Defensive Movements around Environmental or Social Threats Urban (& Suburban) Social Movements & Issue Politics

14. Metropolitan Social Policy: The Ongoing Debate (Liberals) Social Intervention: �The Tragedy of the Commons� � collective self interested action is often against wider social interests Uneven Development & Policy: Redistribution Infrastructure and Housing (Conservatives) Market Intervention: Support for Economic Development Support for Global Competition (Gottdiener & Hutchison, 2006) (New Boosterism?)

15. Social Justice (Harvey, 1973) Development of non-exploitative forms of social, economic, occupational and political organisation Combat social and economic marginalisation Empower the disenfranchised Enable widespread consultation on urban projects and their design Enact social control in a non-oppressive manner that does not unnecessarily inhibit empowerment and self-expression Recognise and mitigate the negative ecological effects of urban developments, including their impact on future generations