Making a Place for Community: Local Democracy in a Global Era

by Thad Williamson, David Imbroscio, Gar Alperovitz

Overview

When pundits refer to the death of community, they are speaking of a number of social ills, which include, but are not limited to, the general increase in isolation and cynicism of our citizens, widespread concerns about declining political participation and membership in civic organizations, and periodic outbursts of small town violence. Making a Place for Community argues that this death of community is being caused by contemporary policies that, if not changed, will continue to foster the decline of community. Increased capital flow between nations is not at the root of the problem, however, increased capital flow within our nation is. Small towns shouldn't have to hope for a prison to open nearby and downtown centers shouldn't sit empty as suburban sparwl encroaches, but they do and it's a result of widely agreed upon public policies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781317794776
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/03/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	424
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Gar Alperovitz, the Lionel R. Bauman Professor of Political Economy at the University of Maryland, has a leading voice in the communitarian movement for 30 years. His book, The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb is the definitive history of the subject. He serves on the editorial board of Tikkun, and his articles appear frequently in The Nation, The Boston Review and TheWashington Post. Thad Williamson is a researcher at Harvard University. He has written for The Nation, InThese Times and Monthly Review. David L. Imbroscio is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Louisville.

Table of Contents

Forward: Benjamin BarberPreface: Toward the Reconstruction of American Community and DemocracyPart I.The triple Threat to Community and DemocracyIntroduction: The Case for Community Economic Stability: Economics and Political-Economics1.Globalization and Free trade2.The Chase for Jobs3.The Challenge of SprawlPart II.Place-Based Policy AlternativesNote to Part II4.Federal Job Stabilizing Policies5. Conventional Strategies6.State and Municipal Enterprise 7.Local MunicipalitiesPart III.Place-Based Economic StructuresNote to Part III8.Supporting Employee Ownership9.Community Development Corporations and Community Development Financial Institutions10. Alternative Ownership Models:Non-Profits and Co-Ops11. Community Land trusts and Community AgriculturePart IV. The Global ContextNote to Part IV.12.Restructuring Global Economic Institutions13.Alternative Approaches to TradeConclusion: Political-Economic Policies for the Next Stage of Democratic Development

Editorial Reviews

An indispensable primer for the new century..

Benjamin Barber

One of the basic tensions within capitalism, argue the three political scientist authors, is between the desire "to preserve, sustain, and strengthen geographically defined communities over time" and the opposing, usually economic, idea that "public policy should seek to facilitate individual and business mobility, no matter what the costs." They pinpoint three "threats" that towns and cities face: the increase in globalization and free trade, the instability of securing and keeping jobs in a specific locality, and the rapid increase of urban sprawl. While filled with copious facts, data and economic theory, the book never loses sight of, and is driven by, its deeply humanitarian purpose-"the principle of nurturing just, sustainable, and secure communities" both in the U.S. and abroad. Holding to that principle requires, the authors argue, radically revising a foundation of contemporary economic thinking-that business interests necessarily will eventually serve humanitarian ones. (Sept. 16) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

"Comprehensive, balanced, and well documented, Making a Place for Community is a monumental collection of valuable research, experience, data and policy guidance on building strong local economies. Essential reading for every city, county and state official and engaged citizen and an invaluable reference source to which they will return for years to come.lo—David C. Korten, author of When Corporations Rule the World."
"The restoration of American democracy will begin—if it begins at all—in the lives of communities, not Washington DC or state capitals. Making a Place for Community provides an illuminating and rigorous tour of the existing landscape of community life and the ongoing efforts to foster development. It is a terrific catalogue of promising ideas.lo—William Greider, author of One World, Ready or Not: The Manic Logic of Global Capitalism."
"A breathtaking synthesis of the latest research on the essential role of strong community economies in revitalizing American democracy. It contains hundreds of exciting examples of successful policies, businesses, and movements that demonstrate that localization IS a viable alternative to perils of globalization. Every local politicians, policymakers, and activist should read, understand, and use this book." — Michael H. Shuman, author of Going Local: Creating Self-Reliant Communities in a Global Age
"Students interested in the intersection of social science and social policy must read this important book. The authors¹ vision of the adverse impact of globalization, internal capital mobility, and suburban sprawl on American communities is compelling. This vision provides the basis for a new and comprehensive policy agenda to achieve community economic stability and for understanding why such stability is so important for the future of American democracy. Making a Place for Community is replete with theoretical insights, strong substantive arguments, and thoughtful policy analyses." — William Julius Wilson, author of When Work Disappears : The World of the New Urban Poor
"An indispensable primer for the new century." — From the foreword by Benjamin Barber, author of Jihad v. McWorld

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