Special Topics in Political Science (390-0-24)

Topic

The Politics of Housing Policy

Instructors

Chloe Thurston
847/467-4067
601 University Place
Office Hours: http://www.polisci.northwestern.edu/people/core-faculty/chloe-thurston.html

Meeting Info

Scott Hall 107 Burdick Room: Wed 2:00PM - 4:50PM

Overview of class

This seminar explores the political, social, and economic intricacies of American housing policy, with an eye towards better understanding current-day U.S. housing challenges and crises. Students will examine historical developments, the origins and consequences of key legislation, and the role of government and political processes at the local, state, and federal levels. Students will examine how various stakeholders - including elected officials, policymakers, interest groups, and local communities - shape the political possibilities for housing reform. Topics covered will include affordable housing, zoning, suburbanization, the role of the private sector and government-sponsored enterprises, and the interplay between race, class, and housing access. By the end of the course, students will gain a nuanced understanding of the political forces shaping housing in the United States and their broader implications and consider innovative solutions to the greatest challenges in this important policy area.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, students will gain a nuanced understanding of the political forces shaping housing in the United States and their broader implications and consider innovative solutions to the greatest challenges in this important policy area.

Teaching Method

Discussion seminars

Evaluation Method

Weekly Memos
Class Participation
Final Project/Paper

Class Materials (Required)

Charles Marohn and Daniel Herriges, Escaping the Housing Trap: The Strong Towns Response to the Housing Crisis (2024) ISBN: 978-1394198306


Coby Lefkowitz, Building Optimism: Why Our World Looks the Way It Does, and How to Make It Better (2024) ISBN: 979-8218524821


Jamila Michener and Mallory SoRelle, Uncivil Democracy: How Access to Justice Shapes Political Power (2026) ISBN: 997-80691264462

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Pre-registration -- Reserved for Political Science students until the end of preregistration, after which time enrollment will be open to everyone who has taken the prerequisites.