Poiicy Studies Journai, Voi. 14, No. 3, March, 1986

LITERATURE REVIEWS

Edited by Ronald Francisco and Robert L. Lineberry, University of Kansas

A. Comments

Once again, we are pleased to share both a general review essay andaiso abstracts of 31 new books in the policy studies field. The generalreview is of three important books on policies toward urban America. Asour nation's attention is focused on national budgetary difficulties and theattendant problems for sub-nationa! governments, this is a timely subjectindeed.

This also permits the Literature Review Co-Editors to remind ourreaders that we are constantly in the market for good review essay sugges-tions. We would urge you to write us with your ideas and some specificnotion of books which you may choose to review. Our task is to reviewthese and make an assessment of their appropriateness for our readers. Asalways, we welcome your suggestions and advice on the Literature Reviewsection.

B. Book Review Essay

URBAN POLICY AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF CITIES:GENTRIFICATION AND NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATIONRichard C. Fei'ock

J. John Palen and Bruce London, eds., Gentrification, Dispiacement andNeighborhood Revitsiizatlon (Albany, NY: State University of NewYork Press, 1984), 271 pp.; ISBN 0-87395-785-7.

Michael H. Schil! and Richard P. Nathan, Revitaiizing America's Cities(Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1983), 184 pp.;ISBN 0-87395-742-3.

Paul E. Peterson, ed.. The New Urban Reality (Washington, DC: TheBrookings Institution, 1985), 301 pp.; ISBN 0-8175-7018-9.

Can gentrification play a significant role in revitalizing U.S. cities?To a great extent the future of urban America is contingent upon theability of cities to adapt to changes in technology and social relations.While there are numerous facets to the transformation of cities, two in

Policy Studies Journal

particuiar have gained considerable attention from scholars of urbanpolitics: the attempt to revitalize or transform the city's economic base,and efforts to upgrade or revitalize urban neighborhoods.

Urban economic development activities which promise to expand orchange a community's economic base are experiencing great popularityamong cities throughout the U.S. During the last decade cities have beenhard hit by changes in technology resulting in shifts of capital and jobsaway from central cities. In the wake of declining tax bases and associatedsocial problems resulting from these shifts, increased service demands, andcuts in intergovernmental transfers, municipalities have engaged in anincredible array of development efforts to stimulate business activity.

The second dimension of urban adaptation and transformation is thealteration in land use patterns and changes in the composition of neigh-borhood populations that are resulting in new sociai organization patternsin many inner cities. The implications of this alteration of land use, orgentrification, for the economic and politicai problems of cities isaddressed in each of these books.

Palen and London assemble a set of papers which reexamine ourknowledge about neighborhood revitaiization and discuss a number ofspecific implications of this process for cities. The first three chapters ofthis volume elaborate on competing theoretical perspectives for under-standing neighborhood revitaiization. Neil Smith and Michael LeFaivre'sarticle "Class Analysis of Gentrification," in this section presents a care-fully constructed critique of the process and ideology of revitaiization.The second section presents the findings of six empirical studies of neigh-borhood revitaiization, A number of specific issues relating to gentrifica-tion are examined in these analyses inciuding the extent of revitaiization,the attitudes of renovators, displacement, the vulnerability of the urbanunderclass, and impacts ori the elderly. The most ambitious study is FrankDeGiovanni's attempt to measure some of the costs and benefits ofrevitaiization in twelve neighborhoods in six cities. The third section pro-vides a cross-cultural perspective by presenting case studies of urbanrevitaiization efforts in Canada, Great Britain, and Europe.

While not directly addressed by the editors, the analyses presentedin sections two and three each point to the limitations of gentrification asa means of revitalizing inner cities. The empirical studies demonstrate thelimited scope and impact of revitaiization efforts on inner cities. Forexample, in Mark Baldassare's analysis of revitaiization in Manhattan,revitaiization was quite limited and evidence suggested that "someneighborhoods improved at the expense of others" (p. 99). Likewise,DeGiovanni found revitaiization efforts to have little impact on assessedproperty values and local tax bases.

The Schill and Nathan volume addresses the more narrow issue ofdisplacement resulting from neighborhood revitaiization efforts. Theanalysis is based upon a survey of residents of nine neighborhoods in fivecities who were displaced as a result of neighborhood revitaiization efforts.

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Book Review Essay

The essential findings of this survey are that, although the amount of dis-piacement resulting from gentrification is substantial. It generally does notresult in significant hardship among those who are displaced. While theauthors do not systematically attempt to measure the benefits of neighbor-hood revitaiization, they demonstrate that the costs are often overstatedand suggest "the advantages of neighborhood reinvestment outweighed itsdisadvantages" {p. 7). The authors then conclude that revitaiization shouldbe encouraged by federal and local policy. While the analysis provides newand interesting insights into the costs imposed by revitaiization efforts, itdoes not provide a comprehensive assessment of the net benefits resultingfrom these efforts. In Hght of the limited economic benefits of gentrifica-tion reported in section two of the Paien and London volume, such policyrecommendations should be based upon a more systematic assessment ofthe costs and benefits of such efforts than that presented by Schill andNathan.

Paul Peterson has assembled a series of papers assessing the causes,processes, and prescriptions for urban decline. While somewhat lessfocused than the Palen and London volume, the contributions are ofconsistently high quality. Peterson's introductory chapter and AnthonyDown's concluding chapter do an excellent job of organizing a coiiectionof interesting yet diverse studies. This volume provides a broad context forexamining the spatial transformations of inner cities by exploring howtechnological and racial change impact upon urban decline and policyalternatives. The implications of examining neighborhood revitaiizationwithin the context of the urban political economy is most clearly demon-strated in Brian Berry's chapter, "Islands of Renewal in Seas of Decay,"and Elijah Anderson's chapter, "Race and Neighborhood Transition."

While each of these volumes has limitations, they do take someinitial steps toward filling a significant research lacuna. The studies suggestboth the neeessity of viewing urban revitaiization efforts within thecontext of the larger political economy and the need to systematicallyassess the costs and benefits of these efforts.

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C. Book Notes

Complied by Howard A. Faye

Addo, Herb, et al. Development as Social Transformation: Reflections onthe Global Problematique (Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1986) v -i-281 pp.; ISBN 0-8133-0200-X, $28.50 softcover.

Produced in association with the United Nations University, thiscollection covers the social and politicai impact of developmental ism in anumber of areas in the international political economy such as militarybuild-ups, agricultural development and anti-developmentalist politicalmovements.

Arian, Asher. Politics in Israel: The Second Generation (Chatham, NJ:Chatham House, 1985) v + 290 pp.; ISBN 0-934540-38-1, $25.00hardcover.

Assessing Israeli politics as the generation of 'founders' passes andnew internal and external problems arise. Professor Arian analyzes theinfluence of new immigrants, changes in party alignments, the politicaleconomy and several aspects of policy making and administration. Theauthor notes sociological developments in Israel which have been alarmingin other systems: high rates of participation with simultaneous low senseof efficacy.

Bean, Philip, John Ferris and David Whynes, {eds.). In Defense of Welfare(New York: Methuen, 1985) xx + 282 pp.; ISBN 0-422-79090-7,$17.95 softcover.

A moral, economic, and administrative consideration of socialwelfare in market economies, this collection covers economic feasibility,implications for citizenship and the role of government in social welfarepolicy. Most examples and the general context are from the UnitedKingdom.

Bedichek, Wendell M., and Neal TannahWl. Public Policy in Texas, 2nd ed(Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman, 1986) 402 pp.; ISBN 0-673-18001-8, $17.95 softcover.

The second edition of a textbook on the political and social history,government, federal role, and policy processes of the State of Texas.

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Booi< Notes

Bowman, William, Roger Little and G. Thomas Sicilia. The Aii-VolunteerForce After a Decade: Retrospect and Prospect (New York^Pergamon-Brassey's, 1986) x + 352 pp.; ISBN 0-08-0324053, $32.50hardcover / 0-08-0324096, $14.00 softcover.

Papers from a conference held at the U.S. Naval Academy on thesuccess of the AH-Volunteer Force system of recruitment of U.S. ArmedForces are presented in this volume. Papers by Defense Secretary CasparWeinberger and others covering subjects such as the performance of the all-volunteer system personnel and manpower supply are included.

Congressional Quarterly Editorial Staff. Energy and Environment: Un-finished Business (Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly, 1985)X + 190 pp.; ISBN 0-87187-360-5, $10.95 softcover.

Divided into sections on energy and the environment, this brief workpresents a factual survey of the state of energy and environmental policyand conditions.

Dahrendorf, Ralf. Law and Order (Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1986)xi -i- 179 pp.; ISBN 0-8133-0342-7, $20.00 hardcover.

This work is Professor Dahrendorf's 1985 Hamlyn Lecture at theInstitute of Advanced Legal Studies at the University of London. It is aclassical liberal response to recent demands for increased police and poli-tical control arising out of the street riots and disturbances of the late 70sand early 80s, which develops into a discussion of order and freedom indemocratic societies.

Dillon, K. Burke, et al., and Khan, Mohsin S., et a!. Recent Deveiopmentsin External Debt Restructuring (Occasional Paper No. 40) and Fund-Supported Adjustment Programs and Economic Growth (OccasionalPaper No. 41) (Washington, DC: International Monetary Fund,1985) ¥ii 4- 68 pp. (No. 40), v -f 33 pp. (No. 41); ISBN 0-939934-52-3 (No. 40), 0-939934-55-8 (No. 41), $7.50 each softcover.

These recent reports from the IMF cover the effect of IMF fundprograms on economic growth and debt restructuring by internationalbanks and aid policies.

Editors of Congressional Quarterly. U.S. Foreign Poiicy: The Reagan im-print (Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly, 1986) x + 177 pp.;iSBN 0-87187-366-4.

This is a survey of Reagan Administration foreign policy rhetoricand actual poiicy. Chapters cover regions (Central America and the MiddleEast), trade policy, and East-West Relations.

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Policy Studies Journal

Edwards, George C, II I , Steven A. Shull and Norman C. Thomas, (eds.).The Presidency and Public Policy Making (Pittsburgh, PA: Universityof Pittsburgh Press, 1985) xix + 227 pp.; ISBN 0-8229-3522-8,$24.95 hardcover / 0-8229-5373-0, $9.95 softcover.

This reader contains articles relating to the executive role in policymaking. Policy leadership, the budget process and executive-legislativestrategies are covered.

Foeli, Earl, and Richard Henneman, {eds.). How Peace Came to the I/Vorid(Cambridge, MA: M.I.T. Press, 1986) xii + 257 pp.; ISBN 0-262-06100-7, $13.95 hardcover.

Selections from forty essays, winners in the "Peace 2010" contestsponsored by the Christian Science Monitor, are published in this volume.The question posed to the essayists was on how world peace might finallybe achieved. Doctors, academics, private businesspersons, and many othersare among the essayists.

Grant, Wyn (ed.). The Politicai Economy of Corporatism (New York: St.Martin's, 1985) xiv + 274 pp.; ISBN 0-312-62260, $29.95 hardcover.

This collection of articles discusses the urban, sociai and politicaleffect of corporatism, as a post-industrial phenomenon. Topics include therole of the State, a case study involving Austria, and changes in urbanservice delivery and corporatism.

Grindle, Merilee S. State and Countryside: Development Policy andAgrarian Politics In Latin America (Baltimore, MD: The JohnsHopkins University Press, 1985) xiii -̂ 255 pp.; ISBN 0-8018-3278-0,0-8018-2935-6.

Part of the Johns Hopkins Studies in Development, this workexamines underdevelopment and agrarian reform in Latin America since1940. The results of development in these countries has led to a growth inunequal distributive results and has created a strong interest group of agri-cultural producers. The result of policies over the last 40 years has beenless democratization and more political control.

Hardin, Russeli, John J. Mearsheimer, Gerald Dworkin and Robert E.Goodin, (eds.). Nuclear Deterrence: Ethics and Strategy (Chicago:University of Chicago Press, 1985) vii -f- 395 pp.; ISBN 0-226-31702-1, $25.00 hardcover / 0-226-31704-8, $10.95 softcover.

This is a reissue of a collection of articles which came out of a con-ference on nuclear arms with the participation of strategists and ethical

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Book Notes

theorists. The emphasis is therefore divided into political and moral issuesof nuclear armament, deterrence and war.

Hershey, Marjorie Randon. Running for Office: The Political Education ofCampaigners {Chatham, NJ: Chatham House. 1984) xii +30.5 pp.;ISBN 0-934540-22-5, $12.95 softcover.

This work focuses on the electoral campaign as a learning experiencefor campaigners, despite its problematic nature in the interpretation ofvoter preference. By "campaigner," the author is referring to the candi-dates, staffers and activists who actively participate in campaigns. Chapterscover types of campaigners by case (six senatorial campaigns in 1980) andissue fpro-iife activity in the 1980 election).

Hough, Jerry F. The Struggle for the Third World: Soviet Debates andAmerican Options {Washington, DC: Brookings, 1986) x -n 293 pp.ISBN 0-8157-3746-7, $32.95 hardcover / 0-8157-3745-9, $12.95softcover.

Arguing against the existence of a monolithic Soviet policy towardnonaHgned nations and the inevitability of nonaligned nations' pathtoward Soviet-style development, this work is a discussion of the nature ofand possibilities for Soviet-American relations in the Third World.

Kamienieckl, Sheldon, Robert O'Brien and Michael Clark (eds.). Contro-versies in Environmental Policy (Albany, NY: State University ofNew York Press, 1986) vi + 322 pp.; ISBN 0-88706-111-7, $39.50hardcover / 0-88706-112-5, $12.95 softcover.

This collection of articles covers the environmental policy area—theenvironment as a public good, problems of evaluation, socia! and economicconsiderations in formulation, the relationship of environmental policy topoliticai structure, and a concluding essay on political theory, politicalactivity as "pragmatic," and the role of environmental policy.

Kaufman, Herbert. Time, Chance and Organizations: Naturai Seiection ina Perilous Environment (Chatham, NJ: Chatham House, 1985) xii +180 pp.; ISBN 0-934540-40-3, $20.00 hardcover / 0-934540-39-X,$11.95 softcover.

Drawing upon the Darwinian theory of natural selection, this workdescribes organizational evolution as similar to natural selection in thatorganizational form, rather than specific firms, changes in response to bothenviroomentai factors, as well as chance. The implications drawn from thistheory make organizations less flexible and less subject to managementthan once thought in classical organizational theory.

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Poiicy Studies Journal

Kenny, Anthony. The Logic of Deterrence: A Philosopher Looks at theArguments For and Against Nuclear Disarmament (Chicago: Univer-sity of Chicago Press, 1985) x + 103 pp.; ISBN 0-226-43154, $20.00hardcover / 0-226-43156-8, $6.95 softcover.

With the claim that an understanding of deterrence is the key to anydebate about the merits of nuclear disarmament, the author analyzes thearguments and the bases for and against the maintenance and growth ofnuclear arsenals. Ultimately, he proposes graduated unilateral disarmamentcoupled with political pressures on other nuclear powers to reciprocate.

Lai, Deepak. The Poverty of 'Development Economics' (Cambridge, MA:Harvard University Press, 1986) vi -̂ 153 pp.; ISBN 0-674-69470-8,$17.50 hardcover / 0-674-69471-6, $6.95 softcover.

Professor Lai critiques the assumptions of development economictheory as applied to underdeveloped countries by showing that govern-mental economic planning and forms of regulations related to price andwage control are responsible for disparities in national economic perfor-mance.

Mehran, Hassanali (ed.). Externai Debt Management (Washington, DC;International Monetary Fund, 1985) x -I- 322 pp.; ISBN 0-939934-48-5, 0-939934-56-6.

Derived from a conference on the problem of external debt manage-ment by borrowing nations, this volume contains papers on debt fromprivate as well as governmental and organizational sources, the effect ofdebt upon political and economic systems, and debt rescheduling necessi-tated by poor economic performance and international monetary insta-bility.

Rees, Gareth and John Lambert. Cities in Crisis: The Political Economy ofUrban Development in Post-War Britain (Baltimore, MD: EdwardArnold, 1985) viii -i- 200 pp.; ISBN 0-7131-6456-5.

Designed to explain the changing politicai economy of cities as aresult of national urban policy, this work focuses on theories of planningand concludes with an urban-based urban policy derived from recentsocialist ideas about deveiopment and planning.

Ripley, Randal B., and Grace A. Franklin. Policy Implementation andBureaucracy (Chicago: The Dorsey Press, 1986) xiii + 261 pp.;ISBN 0-256-03393-5.

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Book Notes

This is an updated version of the 1982 edition, covering the genera!nature of policy implementation, the implementation of types of policiesand the politics of implementation.

Savoie, Donald J. Regional Economic Deveiopment: Canada's Search forSoiutions {Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1986) x + 212 pp.;ISBN 0-8020-2589-7, $25.00 hardcover / 0-8020-6614-3, $12.50softcover.

The evaluation of regional development policy in Canada's provincesis undertaken in this study. Federal programs such as the Department ofRegional Economic Expansion (DREE) and the Department of RegionalIndustriai Expansion (DRIE) and Federal-Provincial cooperation inregional development. Concludes with suggestions of a general and specificnature on regional development policy formation.

Sawhill, John C, and Richard Cotton (eds.). Energy Conservation-Successes and Failures (Washington, DC: Brookings Institution,1986) xii + 270 pp.; ISBN 0-8157-7716-7, $28.95 hardcover /0-8157-7715-9, $10.95 softcover.

In these articles, public and private sector responses to the con-vulsive energy supply from 1973 to 1979 are discussed. National, state,and local public sector responses are analyzed in addition to changes inprivate consumption and finance and investment patterns related to energyissues.

Sjhmandt, Jurgen, and Milliard Roderick (eds.). Acid Rain and FriendlyNeighbors: The Policy Dispute Between Canada and the UnitedStates (Durham, IMC: Duke University Press, 1986) xiii + 332 pp.;!SBN 0-8223-0539-9, $45.00 hardcover.

The difficulties in arranging a bilateral solution between twodifferent countries with different systems and policy objectives isdiscussed in this work in the context of the acid rain externality. In par-ticular, this work uniquely covers the history of regional solutions andadministrative structure differences and their role in solving the acid rainissue.

Sundquist, James L. Constitutional Reform and Effective Government(Washington, DC: Brookings Institution, 1986) ix -i- 262 pp.; ISBN0-8157-8228-4, 0-8157-8227-6.

Professor Sundquist discusses the probable relationship betweenstructural change in government (embodied in the Constitution) and im-provements in effectiveness. A wide range of reforms are discussed—

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Policy Studies Journal

elections, the federal system, relations among branches at the nationallevel, and a revival of the debate over presidential versus parliamentarygovernment.

Vincent, C. Paul. The Politics of Hunger: The Allied Blockade of Germany1915-1919 (Athens, OH: Swallow Press of Ohio University, 1985)viii + 191 pp.; ISBN 0-8214-0820-8, $19.95 hardcover.

The blockade of Germany during the hostilities of World War 1serve as an illustration of the use of trade, and in particular food, as aweapon. The variety of motivations for the blockade produced famine inGermany that was not alleviated even after the cessation of hostilities. Thegenerational effects of this politically-induced famine, especially long-termattitudes and the rise of Naziism, are also discussed.

Witt, Elder. A Different Justice: Reagan and the Supreme Court (Wash-ington, DC: Congressional Ouarteriy, 1986) viii + 208 pp.; ISBN0-87187-367-2.

This is an analysis by Congressional Ouarteriy Supreme CourtAnalyst Elder Witt of the Reagan policy toward the federal justice system,the judicial behavior of his only first-term appointee, Sandra DayO'Connor, and the behavior of the other eight justices in light of Reaganpolicies.

Wright, Kevin. The Great American Crime Myth (Westport, CT: Green-wood Press, 1985) x + 227 pp.; ISBN 0-313-24792-7, $29.95 hard-cover.

Providing a historical and contextual analysis of crime in the UnitedStates, the author sees "hardline" approach to criminal justice policy ashaving dangerous implications, including segmentation of the criminallyinclined, prison overcrowding, infringement on individual liberties, and asignoring the cyclical nature of criminal activity in U.S. history, unrelatedto laxness or rigidity of punishment.

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