Topics in Sociological Analysis (376-0-21)

Topic

Urban Politics

Instructors

Reuel Rogers
847/491-2644
2001 Sheridan Road, 3223
Office Hours: By appointment only
Prof Reuel Rogers' research and teaching interests are in American politics. He studies political behavior, with a focus on the influence of race, ethnicity, immigration, and place. Most of his research examines politics at the local level—how groups in cities confront and challenge inequalities in pursuit of basic democratic rights such as political participation and representation. Rogers' first book Afro-Caribbean Immigrants and the Politics of Incorporation: Ethnicity, Exception, or Exit (2006) explores how Caribbean-born Blacks are changing and complicating Black politics in New York City and the United States. It considers how racial discrimination and stereotyping shape the group’s political integration patterns. The book won best book awards from APSA’s Race, Ethnicity, and Politics Section as well as the Urban Politics Section in 2007. He is currently working on a new book on the politics of Black suburbanization.

Meeting Info

2001 Sheridan GPC GN210: Tues, Thurs 2:00PM - 3:20PM

Overview of class

This course charts the dynamics of urbanization in the United States, paying close attention to its major political ramifications. We survey developments dating from the early mercantile cities of the 19th century to today's fragmented metropolitan areas. We focus on how changes in the urban political economy have generated challenges to democracy like the problem of inequality, and how political power has been marshaled and organized at the local level to address them. The course is suitable for first- to fourth-year students.

Class descriptions from the past two years can be viewed on the class descriptions page. https://class-descriptions.northwestern.edu/Class descriptions prior to that can be viewed in CAESAR in the Class Search and Catalogs sections.

Cross-listed with POLI_SCI 321-0

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, students should have a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between the macro-level dynamics of urbanization, the politics of American cities, and prospects for democratic representation and equality at the local level.

Teaching Method

Lecture, discussion sections, and some discussion during lecture

Evaluation Method

Final exam (35%); Midterm Exam (30%); Short paper (20%); Class participation (15%)

Class Materials (Required)

Political Change in the Metropolis, 8th edition. Ronald K. Vogel and John J. Harrigan. Routledge. 2006. ISBN 0321202287

Class Attributes

Historical Studies Foundational Discipline
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipl
SoC Additional Distro

Associated Classes

DIS - Annenberg Hall G32: Fri 11:00AM - 11:50AM