Governing States and Communities

In STATE AND LOCAL POLITICS: INSTITUTIONS AND REFORM, Donovan, Mooney, and Smith intrigue students by going beyond the purely descriptive treatment usually found in state and local texts. This book offers an engaging comparative approach, showing students how politics and government differ between states and communities, as well as the causes and effects of those variations. Written by three young, high-profile specialists who have contributed significantly to the field in the last decade, STATE AND LOCAL POLITICS: INSTITUTIONS AND REFORM incorporates into the course the most recent scholarship available, giving students access to perspectives that no other textbook on the market currently provides. In addition, the text goes beyond the purely descriptive, traditional approach by focusing on what social scientists know about the effects of rules and institutions on politics and policy. This comparative, institutional framework enables students to think more analytically about the impact of institutions on policy outcomes, asks them to evaluate the effectiveness of one institutional approach over another, and encourages them to consider more sophisticated solutions. STATE AND LOCAL POLITICS: INSTITUTIONS AND REFORM is the only text of its kind to dedicate three full chapters to direct democracy, land use policy, and morality politics. Throughout the text are boxed features that elaborate on the themes of institutions, comparison, and reform. These feature sections provide thought-provoking, concrete examples of the issues at state and local levels so that students can understand how institutions and systems impact individuals in real-life situations. In addition, vivid tables, maps, graphs, and photographs provide the visual tools that students need to process detailed comparative data about the states.

Review :
"Most existing texts on state politics are largely descriptive (and dull). In contrast the analytical focus on institutions in this textbook is a refreshing approach that will likely provide more effective at keeping students' interest. . . . I like how this textbook emphasizes the comparative method, helping ensure that students come away from their course with an appreciation of how scholars study state politics and not simply a set of factoids about the subject." "I was impressed with the coverage of important issues and the superb incorporation of recent scholarship. It has been awhile since a textbook made me excited about the prospect of teaching a course. The result is a textbook that enlivens the area of state and local politics and makes it more relevant for students." "Rather than settling for a lifeless walk through the mechanics of government, the authors have written a theoretically informed, up-to-date treatment of state and local politics. Including references to the latest research on state politics is not only long overdue but it makes the text relevant by demonstrating that the rules of the game matter." "The writing style is engaging and often witty, making the material accessible to perhaps even the most apathetic undergraduate." "This is an innovative, informative, and engaging textbook that will provide students with an interesting way to learn about the levels of government closest to them. These levels of government have a greater impact on the lives of students, but students are not always motivated to study state and local governments. This book should motivate students."