Jacob Waggoner (APRW)

Speaker

Jacob Waggoner, "Institutional Scars: State Law, Race, and the American Municipal Geography"

Abstract

This Article analyzes the development of America’s municipal geography using recent data on historical municipalities. Comparing the results with existing accounts, it makes four claims. First, these data largely agree with existing descriptions of municipal development. However, empirical tests of what drove this development show, second, that state law is underappreciated, and third, that racial exclusion infected this development earlier and more powerfully than previously recognized. This Article's final contribution is a typology contextualizing different periods of America’s municipal development. Its primary implication: healing the racial exclusion institutionalized in America’s municipal geography requires race-conscious boundary regulation and more substantive equality.

The American Politics Research Workshop (Gov 3004) presents an opportunity for graduate students and Harvard faculty to present and receive feedback on their current research. The workshop highlights key theoretical and empirical findings from Harvard affiliates on topics related to American politics. 

All interested Harvard affiliates are invited to attend.