eBook

This Could Be the Start of Something Big

Pastor, Manuel, Benner, Chris, Matsuoka, Martha

2009,2010

Overview

For nearly two decades, progressives have been dismayed by the steady rise of the right in U.S. politics. Often lost in the gloom and doom about American politics is a striking and sometimes underanalyzed phenomenon: the resurgence of progressive politics and movements at a local level. Across the country, urban coalitions, including labor, faith groups, and community-based organizations, have come together to support living wage laws and fight for transit policies that can move the needle on issues of working poverty. Just as striking as the rise of this progressive resurgence has been its reception among unlikely allies. In places as diverse as Chicago, Atlanta, and San Jose, the usual business resistance to pro-equity policies has changed, particularly when it comes to issues like affordable housing and more efficient transportation systems. To see this change and its possibilities requires that we recognize a new thread running through many local efforts: a perspective and politics that emphasizes \"regional equity.\" Manuel Pastor Jr., Chris Benner, and Martha Matsuoka offer their analysis with an eye toward evaluating what has and has not worked in various campaigns to achieve regional equity. The authors show how momentum is building as new policies addressing regional infrastructure, housing, and workforce development bring together business and community groups who share a common desire to see their city and region succeed. Drawing on a wealth of case studies as well as their own experience in the field, Pastor, Benner, and Matsuoka point out the promise and pitfalls of this new approach, concluding that what they term social movement regionalism might offer an important contribution to the revitalization of progressive politics in America.

• Publisher: Cornell University Press
• Subject: activism / activist studies / activists / activists case studies / activists how to / activists in cities / activists manual / books for activism / books for activists / books for policy makers / books for social change / books for social workers / case studies progressive politics / Civil Society and Social Change / coalitions / coalitions and social movements / Community and Urban Sociology / community development / Community development, Urban / Community development, Urban -- United States / Community organization / Community organization -- United States / community organizing / community organizing in cities / community practices for social workers / community work / community-based assistance / community-based change / community-based organizations / community-based organizations for equality / community-based outreach / community-based social movements / critical sociological analysis / current social action / Economic justice / foundation officers / grassroots action initiatives / inclusion / justice in american cities / LABOR HISTORY / labor union / local activism / local activists / Metropolitan areas / Metropolitan areas -- United States / modern community organizing / neighborhood community organizing / Political Advocacy / political leaders / Political Process / POLITICAL SCIENCE / progressive community organizing / progressive politics in action / progressive politics in America / real progressive politics / Regional disparities / Regional disparities -- United States / regional equality / Regional integration / Regional planning / Regional planning -- Social aspects -- United States / Regional Studies / Regionalism / Regionalism -- Social aspects -- United States / Social aspects / social justice activists / Social justice Movements / Social Movements / Social movements -- United States / SOCIAL SCIENCE / SOCIAL SCIENCE / Activism & Social Justice / SOCIAL SCIENCE / Regional Studies / SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology / Urban / social sustainability in urban areas / social work in the community / Sociology / SOCIOLOGY & SOCIAL SCIENCE / Study of Social Policy / sustainability studies / U.S.A / United States / Urban / urban coalitions / urban policy / urban sociology / URBAN STUDIES
• ISBN: 0801447216, 9780801447211, 9780801474620, 0801474620