Neighborhoods Matter - by Carrie Levan

Book Synopsis

The unexpected impact of neighborhood design on civic engagement

Participation in official governmental institutions and activities has declined dramatically. Americans are less inclined to express trust in, or cooperate with, political leaders and each other to address society's most pressing problems. In Neighborhoods that Matter, Carrie LeVan explores this growing crisis in civic engagement, arguing that where we live -and the people who live around us- may be to blame.

Drawing on national surveys, census data, and spatial analysis, LeVan demonstrates how neighborhood design can dramatically impact political participation, including people's desire and ability to vote in local, state, and national elections. She argues that the suburbs, which isolate residents, require driving, and are zoned for single-use, do not provide an effective infrastructure for civic engagement. However, cities, which are often designed to be walkable, more interactive, and are zoned for mixed-use, provide a supportive environment where people and politics can thrive.

Ultimately, LeVan underscores how neighborhoods that support interaction, competition, collective action--and even conflict--can support greater civic engagement and political participation. Neighborhoods that Matter highlights the connection between politics, people, and place, calling for good suburban and urban design that can support a vibrant and engaging civic life.

Review Quotes

"Neighborhoods That Matter is a timely advance in the study of political participation, elevating the concept of neighborhood design to an important influence on who engages in civic activities. It's not just neighbors that matter--it is neighborhood design, a set of findings that are sure to lead to theoretical, empirical and practical consequences in today's concerning political environment."-- "Jan Leighley, author of Who Votes Now? Demographics, Issues, Inequality and Turnout in the United States"

About the Author

Carrie LeVan is the Montgoris Family Assistant Professor of Government at Colby College. Her work as appeared in a number of prestigious journals, including American Politics Research and Quarterly Journal of Political Science. LeVan received the Susan Clarke Young Scholar Award for Urban and Local Politics from APSA in 2019.