This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Mossberger, K. Articles by Stoker, G. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

The Evolution of Urban Regime Theory

The Challenge of Conceptualization

Kent State University

Gerry Stoker

University of Manchester

Urban regime theory came to prominence with the publication of Clarence Stone’s study of Atlanta in 1989, although earlier work by Fainstein and Fainstein (1983) and Elkin (1987) has also been influential. Since then, regime analysis has been extensively used to examine urban politics both inside North America and beyond. The authors argue that the wide use of regime analysis is a recognition of its value and insights but that some applications have stretched the concept beyond its original meaning to the point that the concept itself runs the risk of becoming meaningless and a source of theoretical confusion. By sifting through the extensive literature applying regime theory, the authors reestablish the core components of the concept and identify the key fields where it has made a contribution. It is suggested that regime analysis has helped considerably in reorienting the power debate in North America and in facilitating the analysis of politics beyond the formal institutions of the government outside North America.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Poppelaars Resource Exchange in Urban Governance: On the Means that Matter Urban Affairs Review, September 1, 2007; 43(1): 3 - 27. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Sapotichne, B. D. Jones, and M. Wolfe Is Urban Politics a Black Hole? Analyzing the Boundary Between Political Science and Urban Politics Urban Affairs Review, September 1, 2007; 43(1): 76 - 106. [Abstract] [PDF]

				F. Moulaert, F. Martinelli, S. Gonzalez, and E. Swyngedouw Introduction: Social Innovation and Governance in European Cities: Urban Development Between Path Dependency and Radical Innovation European Urban and Regional Studies, July 1, 2007; 14(3): 195 - 209. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Krinsky The Urban Politics of Workfare: New York City's Welfare Reforms and the Dimensions of Welfare Policy Making Urban Affairs Review, July 1, 2007; 42(6): 771 - 798. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. E. Bulkley Bringing the Private Into the Public: Changing the Rules of the Game and New Regime Politics in Philadelphia Public Education Educational Policy, January 1, 2007; 21(1): 155 - 184. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Rast Governing the Regimeless City: The Frank Zeidler Administration in Milwaukee, 1948-1960 Urban Affairs Review, September 1, 2006; 42(1): 81 - 112. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. Burns and M. O. Thomas The Failure of the Nonregime: How Katrina Exposed New Orleans as a Regimeless City Urban Affairs Review, March 1, 2006; 41(4): 517 - 527. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B. Denters and K. Mossberger Building Blocks for a Methodology for Comparative Urban Political Research Urban Affairs Review, March 1, 2006; 41(4): 550 - 571. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Pierre Comparative Urban Governance: Uncovering Complex Causalities Urban Affairs Review, March 1, 2005; 40(4): 446 - 462. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. M. Wood Domesticating Urban Theory? US Concepts, British Cities and the Limits of Cross-national Applications Urban Stud, October 1, 2004; 41(11): 2103 - 2118. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Gissendanner Mayors, Governance Coalitions, and Strategic Capacity: Drawing Lessons from Germany for Theories of Urban Governance Urban Affairs Review, September 1, 2004; 40(1): 44 - 77. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. F. Burns and M. O. Thomas Governors and the Development Regime in New Orleans Urban Affairs Review, July 1, 2004; 39(6): 791 - 812. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H. W. Kilburn Explaining U.S. Urban Regimes: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis Urban Affairs Review, May 1, 2004; 39(5): 633 - 651. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H. Mommaas Cultural Clusters and the Post-industrial City: Towards the Remapping of Urban Cultural Policy Urban Stud, March 1, 2004; 41(3): 507 - 532. [Abstract] [PDF]