This popular text has been thoroughly updated and revised to sharpen the focus on its 'bias and change' theme, include the latest data/studies informing the field, and cover important new topics (e.g., flood disaster in New Orleans).

Preface Part One - Metropolitan Cities in the 21st Century Chapter 1- 21st Century Cities and Challenge of Urban Governance Chapter 2- The Emergence of Metropolitan America Part Two- The Ethnic and Racial Base of Politics Chapter 3- Ethnic-Based Politics in the City Chapter 4- Machine Politics and Reform Part Three- Politics in the Contemporary City Chapter 5- The City as a Place of Opportunity: The Politics of Racial and Social Change Chapter 6- The City as a Place of Opportunity: The Changing Urban Political Economy Chapter 7- Community Power and Leadership Part Four- Suburbia and the Multicentered Metropolis Chapter 8- Urban Sprawl Chapter 9- Metropolitan Government Chapter 10- The New Regionalism: Taking "Metropolitan Governance Without Government" Seriously Part Five- Toward an Urban Policy Chapter 11- National Urban Policy Chapter 12- Political Change in the Metropolis of the Future Credits Index