Studying Politics in an Urban World: Research Traditions and New Directions

This introductory article discusses the objective of this volume, which is to present a critical assessment of the state of theory and research on urban politics, including methods, debates, and questions for future research. This volume demonstrates the many ways in which the policy-oriented and contextually grounded research typical of urban politics strengthens and extends our understanding of contemporary political and social dynamics. The first section introduces urban theory and research related to power and participation; the second addresses institutions and democratic practices within cities; the third explores politics and the changing social organization of cities; the fourth deals with the particular processes and politics of urban policy; and the concluding section discusses recent trends in urban politics, and new issues that are likely to influence research and theory in the future.