City and regime in the American republic

摘要: Stephen L. Elkin deftly combines the empirical and normative strands of political science to make a powerfully original statement about what cities are, can, should be. Rejecting idea that two goals city politics-equality efficiency-are opposed one another, argues commercial republic could achieve both. He then takes unusual step addressing how institutions can help form kind citizenry such needs. The present workings American urban maintains, characterized by close relationship between politicians businessmen, promotes neither equality nor effective social problem-solving. pays particular attention issue land-use in his analysis these failures popular control traditional politics. Urban institutions, however, are not just instruments for dispensing valued outcomes or devices problem-solving-they citizenry. Our largely define citizens as interest group adversaries do little encourage them focus on public city. concludes proposing new institutional arrangements would be better able harness self-interested behavior individuals common good republic.