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Using big data, this book reveals stark racial and class inequalities in representation in local governments across the United States.
List of contents
1. Race, class, and representation in local government; 2. Studying inequality in representation in local government: a new approach; 3. Municipal politics as sites of racial and class contention; 4. Local political participation, municipal elections, and the prospects for representation in local government; 5. Racial inequality in representation on municipal councils and in policy; 6. Predictors of racial inequality in representation; 7. Economic inequality in representation on municipal councils and in policy; 8. Predictors of economic inequality in representation; 9. Race, class, and representation in local politics; Bibliography; Index.
About the author
Brian F. Schaffner is the Newhouse Professor of Civic Studies at Tufts University. He is co-author Campaign Finance and Political Polarization: When Purists Prevail, which was the winner of the 2016 Virginia Gray Best Book Award. He is also co-editor of Winning with Words: The Origins & Impact of Political Framing and co-author of Understanding Political Science Research Methods: The Challenge of Inference. His research has appeared in more than 40 peer-reviewed journal articles and has received over $2 million in external grant funding.Jesse H. Rhodes is Professor of Political Science and Department Chair at University of University of Massachusetts, Amherst and Associate Director of the UMass Poll. His research focuses on struggles over policy development and the consequences of these battles for politics and citizenship. He is the author of An Education in Politics: The Origin and Development of No Child Left Behind and Ballot Blocked: The Political Erosion of the Voting Rights Act, along with more than 20 peer-reviewed journal articles.Raymond J. La Raja is Professor of Political Science and Associate Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at University of Massachusetts, Amherst and Associate Director of the UMass Poll. His research focuses on political parties, political participation, and campaign finance. He is co-author of Campaign Finance and Political Polarization: When Purists Prevail, winner of the 2016 Virginia Gray Best Book Award, and a co-author on policy reports from the Brookings Institution. He is founding editor of The Forum, a journal on American politics, and past President of the Political Organizations and Parties section of the American Political Science Association.
Summary
Americans express great confidence in local government. But is this confidence warranted? Using big data, this book examines racial and class inequalities in representation across US municipalities. We find that non-whites and less-affluent residents are consistent losers in local democracy. We suggest revisions to reforms to enhance political equality.
Additional text
'Hometown Inequality provides an authoritative assessment of representational inequalities in local governments. It finds that local governments do not adequately represent the poor and racial minorities. It also raises a number of ideas to rejuvenate local democracy. This book should be required reading for anyone interested in democratic politics in the United States and how we can make it work better.' Christopher Warshaw, Department of Political Science, George Washington University
