Does an average person have more influence in local or national politics Do the poor have more influence in local or national politics Questions Do the rich elites have more influence in local or national politics ID: 224201
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Slide1
Questions
Does an average person have more influence in local or national politics
?
Do
the poor have more influence in local or national politics?Slide2
Questions
Do the rich (“elites”) have more influence in local or national politics?
Who was the most powerful person in a place you came from?Slide3
Questions
How would you identify the most powerful people in a city / county?Slide4
Post-Reform Political Institutions
Levels of Voter Participation in America (% of VAP):
2014 Congressional:
35.9
%
2012 Presidential
58.0
2013 LA Mayoral
23
%*
2013 Whatcom Co.
45.5
%
2007 Gubernatorial
38.1
(LA, KY & MS)
2000 California local
30.0Slide5
Levels of Local Participation in America
In the last 12 months, did you / were you:
all poor wealthy
dif
Attend public meeting to discuss school or town affairs 45% 31 63
-32
Work on a community project
38
% 23 60
-37
Attended a PTA / school group meeting
24
% 14 34
-20
Participate in
neighborhood
/ homeowner association 22% 12 41
-29
Participate in group that took action for local reform
18
% 9 30
-21
Note:
Poor = household income is $20,000 or less, wealthy = $100,000 or more
Slide6
In this context, who has power?
A) Theory of Elite
Rule
(different than Moloch)
in mid-large places, reforms & lack of urban machine create
"
vacuum”
in
smaller, homogeneous places, limited conflict =
"
limited
stakes”
early studies (1929 - late 50s) stress model
ofSlide7
In this context, who has power?
E
arly
studies (1929 - late 50s) stress model of
class stratification
lower = worker consciousness
mid = homeowner consciousness
upper = capital owner
consciousness
top layers control machinery of
govt
Slide8
Elite theory of urban politics
1
) upper class rules what cities do
class function of birth, ownership, wealth, old money families, etc.
2
) political and civil leaders beholden to upper classSlide9
Elite theory of urban politics
single
, homogeneous
power-elite rules city
have influence over multiple policy spheres
more so even than in national politics
, since there are no vehicles to represent lower status claims
(e.g.,
parties
)
4
) power elite rule in their own
interest
the
business of a city is business, and social amenities
are for the rich
....Slide10
Elite theory of urban politics
political
conflict = class
conflict
Muted, one-sided class conflictSlide11
Findings from early reputational power studies
1
)
Atlanta, GA 1953
(Floyd Hunter)
determine top 100 elites
reputational study
survey of knowledgeable informers
"who is the biggest man in town
?”
find inter-relations among top 100
a small, homogeneous, interlocking group dominating all policy areasSlide12
Findings from early reputational power studies
1)
Atlanta, GA 1953
(Floyd Hunter)
cadre of businessmen who interact socially, attend same clubs and schools
"test of admission to circle of decision makers is a man's position in the business community"Slide13
Findings from early
reputational power
studies
2
)
Muncie, IN 1929
(Lynd and Lynd)
small wealthy clique of families own main banks, downtown buildings, local press
therefore they control nearly all politics
a level of elite domination not possible at national level ??Slide14
Findings from early reputational power studies
3
) Philadelphia, 1959; Morris, IL 1949
Business elite control local economy and hold sway over public matters
“An aristocracy of wealth and privilege”Slide15
Findings from early reputational power studies
Q: today, is it more/less likely that a single family could have such ownership control in a mid size city?
What has changed?Slide16
Details of Elite Theory of Power
Elite rule not raw dominance, but "built-in" upper-class "bias" in how things work
resources to participate
information on politics
motivation (economic) to participate
access (formal and social) to officials
contributions in campaignsSlide17
Details of Elite Theory of Power
Privilege place of private investors
make
decisions that increase/decrease land
value
cities
built on private
capita
fiscal
health depends on private
investment
bond
ratings affects by fiscal
health
ability
to borrow for school
const
, etc.Slide18
Details of Elite Theory of Power
The "silent face" of power
ability to keep things off the agenda
power of elite reflected in what cities do not do
unemployment compensations
income taxes
social services
public housing
welfare services (?)Slide19
Problems with the
Elite Model
How homogeneous can "the" elite be
?
old
money families
vs..
"new
rich”
old
industries
vs..
new
industries
Do businesses have conflicts w/ each other
?
homebuilders
vs.
industry
smokestacks
vs.
tourism
sales tax
vs.
property tax Slide20
Problems with the
Elite Model
What is the glue that might hold these elites
together:
low taxes?
infrastructure?
pro-development ideologySlide21
Problems with the
Elite Model
How much do cites act
only
in elite interest?
What amenities do cities provide?
Pro sports teams
Symphony halls, museums
convention centers, retail meccas
parks, libraries,
mass transit
Or are these instruments of profit and social controlSlide22
Overview: Elite Power model
1)
institutional
power
Progressive
reforms weaken public offices
2
)
structural power
cozy
links private &
public financial
, investment power
3
)
ideological power
"
growth is
good”
4
)
"silent
power”
agenda
control......Slide23
Overview: Elite Power model
PROBLEMS
does
reputation = actual decisions
?
does wealth, social status
= all political power?Slide24
Pluralist Theory of Urban Politics
Pluralist Theory
(
R. Dahl, New Haven CT 1961)
identify
those having reputation as powerful, then
OBSERVE
decisions
they make/influence in 3 areas
:
economic re-development policy
political nominations
education policySlide25
Pluralist Theory of Urban Politics
Few have power in all 3
areas
of top 50, only 3 (the elected mayor)
most (27) had influence in just one arenaSlide26
Pluralist Theory of Urban Politics
Power diffuse
, fluid and mobile
new groups mobilize quickly when
threatened
bussing
, building ugly homes
groups
don't withdraw from process less satisfied
no
personal/family "power structure"Slide27
Pluralist Theory of Urban Politics
D
emocratic
functions have real
meaning
Most adults registered to vote
elections not corrupt
New Haven elections
partisan and competitive
,
competing slates
this constrains elites Slide28
Pluralist Theory of Urban Politics
Unequal distribution of resources, but
Easy access to one resource of power ($$) NOT mean access to others (voter support)
No single resource dominant
nominations = votes, popularity
redevelopment = $$, information
education = legal skill, use of courtsSlide29
Comparing/Assessing the Models
Cities are different
culture
: how "pro growth" or "post
material”
institutions
: how reformed
?
heterogeneity
of populationSlide30
Comparing/Assessing the Models
Methods and time of studies different
‘large’ business less locally owned
family oligopolies giving way to nationalization, globalization of capitalSlide31
Comparing/Assessing the Models
City power structure related to local participation
Activist cities
Santa Monica, Berkeley, Portland, San Francisco, NY, Chicago
Low participation (reformed) places
Atlanta 1950s, sunbelt cities, many homogeneous suburbsSlide32
Pluralist Theory of Urban Politics
Different resources of influence/power
Power function of expertise, information, education, skill with legal system
Power function of voter support
AND moneySlide33
So, who governs?
Does pluralist model apply better to national or local politics?
Does elite model apply better to nation or local politics?Slide34
So, who governs?
Can there be a pluralist model of power without political parties?