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Preface

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2012

Christopher R. Berry
Affiliation:
University of Chicago
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Summary

This book was influenced by statements from two eminent political scientists who have shaped my approach to the study of urban politics. The first statement is Paul Peterson's preface to City Limits (1981), in particular its first five paragraphs. Although it was not a statement made specifically to me–I was only to meet Peterson years later–it spoke to me quite directly. Therein, Peterson submits a trenchant indictment of the “loss of intellectual vitality” in the study of urban politics. He had the courage to say what most knew then and all must surely realize by now, namely, that while urban politics as a field of human endeavor remains exciting, fascinating, and central to modern life, urban politics as a field of academic study is an intellectual backwater. The reason, according to Peterson, is that urban scholars have stopped asking questions of first-order importance. Ironically, his accusation is vindicated most powerfully by the fact that City Limits remains the only book on urban politics written in the past 30 years that is still widely read by nonspecialists.

The second statement was made to me by Ken Shepsle over drinks in Harvard Square, just as I was beginning to form the ideas that became my dissertation and ultimately this book. I had met Ken at a conference the summer before, and we stayed in touch as a result of his generosity in mentoring a young student who had taken an interest in some of his work.

Type
Chapter
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Imperfect Union
Representation and Taxation in Multilevel Governments
, pp. ix - x
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2009

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  • Preface
  • Christopher R. Berry, University of Chicago
  • Book: Imperfect Union
  • Online publication: 05 June 2012
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511808524.001
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  • Preface
  • Christopher R. Berry, University of Chicago
  • Book: Imperfect Union
  • Online publication: 05 June 2012
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511808524.001
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Preface
  • Christopher R. Berry, University of Chicago
  • Book: Imperfect Union
  • Online publication: 05 June 2012
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511808524.001
Available formats
×