Frameworks of Urban Governance
Urban governance covers the institutions, laws, and social movements that shape how cities distribute resources, manage development, and structure daily life. This MIT course examines governance through legal, political, social, and economic lenses, asking how these frameworks constrain collective decisions on issues like immigration and education. Coursework consists of nightly readings paired with a short paper that applies one of the frameworks discussed in class to a real urban issue. The syllabus draws on case studies of city governments, planning bodies, and civic movements to show how formal rules and informal power interact in practice. Materials come from MIT OpenCourseWare and are free to access, with no certificate offered. The course suits students interested in city planning, public administration, or the politics of urban life, and it treats governance as a contested, layered system rather than a single set of rules.