Cities, Change, and Conflict was one of the first texts to embrace the perspective of political economy as its main explanatory framework, and then complement it with the rich contributions found in the human ecology perspective. Although its primary focus is on North American cities, the book contains several chapters on cities in other parts of the world, including Europe and developing nations, providing both historical and contemporary accounts on the impact of globalization on urban development.
This edition features new coverage of important recent developments affecting urban life, including the implications of racial conflict in Ferguson, Missouri, and elsewhere, recent presidential urban strategies, the new waves of European refugees, the long-term impacts of the Great Recession as seen through the lens of Detroit's bankruptcy, new and emerging inequalities, and an extended look into Sampson's Great American City.
Beyond examining the dynamics that shape the form and functionality of cities, the text surveys the experience of urban life among different social groups, including immigrants, African Americans, women, and members of different social classes. It illuminates the workings of the urban economy, local and federal governments, and the criminal justice system, and also addresses policy debates and decisions that affect almost every aspect of urbanization and urban life.
About the Author: Dr. Nancy Kleniewski retired as President of the State University of New York College at Oneonta in June 2018. After receiving her Ph.D. from Temple University, Dr. Kleniewski served as Professor of Sociology at SUNY Geneseo, Dean of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and Provost at Bridgewater State University. She is the author and editor of five books and numerous articles on urban issues and urban policy.
Alexander R. Thomas is Chair and Professor of Sociology at the State University of New York College at Oneonta. He received his Ph.D. in 1998 from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, and has gone on to write two books and co-author three others, including the fourth edition of Cities, Change, and Conflict. His current research focuses on the development of cities and modern cities.
