Prerequisite: None

Exam Type: No Exam

At a moment when the possibility of a nationwide progressive agenda feels distant, suddenly everyone is thinking about cities. The election of Zohran Mamdani, in particular, has generated renewed attention to and excitement about city government. This course explores the potential and limits of municipal socialism as a strategy for democratizing economic life and improving the lives of everyday people. Students will gain a better understanding of the legal, fiscal, and institutional tools available to municipalities, the political coalitions required to deploy them, as well as the structural constraints and political opposition that stand in their way.

The first two sessions will focus on providing an understanding of the power of cities and why ambitious city policy so often runs into legal walls before political ones. The last four sessions will take Mamdani’s New York as a case study, with sessions on the city budget, housing, labor, and the direct provision of goods.

Note: This reading group will meet on the following dates: 2/11, 2/25, 3/11, 3/25, 4/8, and 4/15.