SOCG 371M: Community Power
(cross-listed as IDIS 400)
Course Overview:
Who has power at the local level? What do they do with it? What interests are protected, represented and advanced – and why? Whose interests are advocated for, and whose voices remain unheard? Do neighborhoods matter in city politics and policies? Do individuals? How do these different units of analysis – the city, the neighborhood, the resident – make waves, make change, or experience the short end of the policy stick? We’ll be examining inequality, as well as multiple efforts to ameliorate inequality – all at the level of the local community.
In this course we will examine how power is distributed and used at the local level, as well as struggles for power at the community level. We will do this by examining formal governance (electoral processes and patterns, party machines, etc.) and informal urban governance (who actually has power in various communities). We will think also about smaller institutions that can wield influence in communities, such as community development corporations and other “grassroots” urban development forms, asking questions about how they came to be and the implications of their popularity for urban politics and for citizen/neighborhood empowerment. Finally, we will spend some time examining contests over power and influence, through looking at urban social movements and periods of “riots” (or unrest).
Course goals: by the end of the semester, you should:
*Gain understanding of how power is patterned and enacted at the local level
*Think critically about how power can be seen in both formal and informal organizations and activities
*Conduct original research on several aspects of community, inequality and power
* Hone your written and oral communication skills
Assignments/Evaluation criteria:
Quality of contribution to class community: 18%
A strong, vibrant, engaging class community is not automatic, and it is not purely the result of things that I (the professor) do. Rather, we all have responsibility for contributing to the care and feeding of our class community. Your “quality of contribution to class community” will include: participation in class, listening in class, being respectful to people and ideas throughout the class, responding thoughtfully to peers’ posts on course website, sharing things you find relevant to our class on the website, helping each other talk/think through research projects, and in many other ways shouldering your part of the responsibility for creating an exciting, challenging and supportive class.
When we each do this, it will help you actively engage the readings and the discussion material; and participation by many people with different experiences, insights, and understandings will enrich all of our understandings of our topics. I will try to make the classroom a learning environment where all viewpoints are respected. If you feel uncomfortable participating in class discussion or activities for any reason, please talk with me.
Discussion leading: 18%
To further the goal of making this course as participatory as possible, you will lead class discussion of our readings once during the semester. You will be responsible for guiding our discussion of readings for part of one class period. Depending on the schedule, you may be doing this in pairs. Guidelines for this assignment are available on the course website.
Reaction papers: 8% each, 24% total
You will write 3 short reaction papers in the course of the semester. These will be brief ways for you to summarize and critically assess materials we’ve been working with in the course. There are 5 possible due dates, choose any 3 you’d like. Further guidelines are on the course website.
Research projects and abstracts: 15% , 15%: (30% total)
You will complete 2 short research projects in the course of the semester. I have created a “menu” of options for you for these papers. You have a lot of freedom to choose topics and methods that most interest you. Further guidelines are on the course website. You will post an abstract of your projects online, and you will be expected to read/comment on at least 2 of your peers’ research projects.
Presentation of one research project: 10%
At the end of the semester, everyone will present one of their research projects to the class. These will be brief presentations that should focus on your substantive findings, and explaining to your peers why these findings are of interest to our course.
Grading Scale:
A: 93-100 A-: 90-92/B+: 87-89 B: 83-86 B-: 80-82/C+: 77-79 C: 73-76 C-: 70-72/
D+: 67-69 D: 60-67
Anything below 60 is a failing grade. Those selecting the Pass/Fail option must average a 60. Grades of D or below will be reported as Unsatisfactory on midterm grades.
HONOR CODE: All students are expected to follow the policies of UMW with respect to academic conduct. Anyone engaging in plagiarism, cheating, or any other form of academic dishonesty will be referred to the Honors Council. Please write and sign the following pledge on all assignments and exams:
I hereby declare, upon my word of honor, that I have neither given nor received unauthorized help on this work. (Signature)
Disability Services: The Office of Disability Services has been designated by the University as the primary office to guide, counsel, and assist students with disabilities. If you receive services through that office and require accommodations for this class, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss your approved accommodation needs. Bring your accommodation letter with you to the appointment. I will hold any information you share with me in the strictest confidence unless you give me permission to do otherwise. If you need accommodations, (note taking assistance, extended time for tests, etc.) I would be happy to refer you to the Office of Disability Services. They will require appropriate documentation of a disability. Their phone number is 540-654-1266.
Required books:
Ferman, Barbara. 1996. Challenging the Growth Machine: Neighborhood Politics in Chicago and Pittsburgh. University Press of Kansas.
Arena, John. 2012. Driven From New Orleans: How Non-profits Betray Public Housing and Promote Privatization. University of Minnesota Press.
Abu-Lughod, Janet. 2007/2012. Race, Space and Riots in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. Oxford University Press.
*Additional readings will be placed online, and will be indicated on the syllabus.
Course website: All course documents will be made available on the course website (cmtypwr.lesliemartin.net) – including the syllabus, and all other assignment guidelines. I will also post grades on Canvas. Please let me know if you have any trouble accessing the class website or Canvas.