The Calculus of Coalitions: Cities, Suburbs, and the Metropolitan Agenda

Todd Swanstrom, Margaret Weir, Harold Wolman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Reductions in federal urban assistance and devolution have made cities increasingly reliant on their state governments at a time when cities have lost political strength in state legislatures. This article identifies three types of coalitions that historically supported cities: party-imposed coalitions, interest-based coalitions, and governor-brokered coalitions. It shows how institutional, demographic, and economic changes have made these legislative coalitions less reliable. The article then considers prospects for constructing new city-suburban legislative coalitions. It argues that institutional constraints have limited the scope of preferences expressed by city and suburban legislators. The article concludes that prospects for city-suburban coalitions will depend on new issue definitions, institutional rules, and organizations that help city and suburban legislators redefine their policy preferences.
Original languageAmerican English
JournalUrban Affairs Review
Volume40
StatePublished - 2005

Disciplines

  • Political Science

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