Politics in Context: Assimilation and Conflict in Urban Neighborhoods - Couverture rigide

Huckfeldt, Robert

Couverture rigide

ISBN 10 : 0875860672 ISBN 13 : 9780875860671

Editeur : Algora Publishing, 2003

Synopsis

n the mid-1980s, political scientist Robert Huckfeldt challenged the idea that individual traits alone drive voting and opinions, arguing instead that urban neighborhoods shape politics in ways we often overlook. Politics in Context: Assimilation and Conflict in Urban Contexts, based on surveys from 1968 Buffalo and 1966 Detroit, shows how the social makeup of a neighborhood—its mix of working-class residents, ethnics, or racial groups—influences everything from party loyalties to residential choices.

Huckfeldt draws on data from over 900 white respondents across census tracts, revealing how living amid certain groups nudges people toward similar views. In working-class heavy neighborhoods, even professionals lean Democratic, while middle-class areas pull the opposite way. He builds a model of friendship choice, demonstrating that residents preferentially befriend those nearby with matching occupations—working-class folks shun middle-class ties more in outnumbered settings, fostering "protective" social networks that reinforce political leanings.

The book tackles partisan attachments head-on: party ID responds strongly to neighborhood class density, more so than early candidate opinions, though campaign buzz amplifies effects for those who chat politics regularly. Ethnic politics gets fresh scrutiny too—Italian-Americans in Buffalo sustain loyalties not just through heritage, but via concentrated neighborhoods that boost ethnic awareness and voting blocs, even across generations.

White flight emerges as a stark example of contextual pushback. Whites flee not only black influxes but riot-proximate areas, prioritizing security over overt racism; older residents and ethnics stick around longer in stable spots. Political participation rises with like-minded neighbors, creating "socially based" activism among Democrats in blue-collar zones.

Huckfeldt weaves assimilation—adopting surrounding views—with conflict, like tipping points where outnumbered groups resist and turn inward. Chapters model these dynamics mathematically, testing self-selection critiques and proving contexts matter beyond personal ambition.

Timely for today's polarized cities, this work revives Durkheim's group realities and Lazarsfeld's "group experience" of voting. It critiques urbanism's isolating myths, showing neighborhoods as labs for social influence. Ideal for political scientists, sociologists, or urban policy buffs, Politics in Context: Assimilation and Conflict in Urban Contexts offers data-driven insights into why group politics endures—and how zoning and segregation policies sustain it. A smart, evidence-packed read that bridges micro-behavior and macro-trends.

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

The motivating thesis of this book is that political opinions and behavior of individuals cannot be explained apart from the environments within which they occur. Individual characteristics alone do not determine political actions and opinions. Rather, political behavior must be understood in terms of the actor's relationship to the environment, and the environmental factors that impinge on individual choice.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Algora Publishing
• Date d'édition: 2003
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0875860672
• ISBN 13: 9780875860671
• Reliure: Relié
• Nombre de pages: 200
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible