Community Power Structure

Community Power Structure
Author: Floyd Hunter
Publisher: UNC Press Books
Total Pages: 322
Release: 2017-11-01
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1469616947

In this study of busy, complex Regional City -- and it is a real city -- the author has analyzed the power structure from top to bottom. He has searched out the men of power and, under fictitious names, has described them as they initiate policies in their offices, their homes, their clubs. They form a small, stable group at the top of the social structure. Their decision-making activities are not known to the public, but they are responsible for whatever is done, or not done, in their community. Beneath this top policy group is a clearly marked social stratification, through which decisions sift down to the substructures chosen to put them into effect. The dynamic relations within the power structure are made clear in charts, but the real interest lies in the author's report of what people themselves say. The African American community is also studied, with its own power structure and its own complicated relations with the large community. The method of study is fully described in an Appendix. The book should be of particular value to sociologists, political scientists, city-planning executives, Community Council members, social workers, teachers, and research workers in related fields. As a vigorous and readable presentation of facts, it should appeal to the reader who would like to know how his/her own community is run. Community Power Structure is not an expose. It is a description and discussion of a social phenomenon as it occured. It is based on sound field research, including personal observation and interviews by the author.

The Politics of Education in the Local Community

The Politics of Education in the Local Community
Author: Robert S. Cahill
Publisher:
Total Pages: 280
Release: 1964
Genre: Community and school
ISBN:

The book is the outcome of a seminar which took place at the University of Oregon in August 1963, and which involved representatives from the fields of political science, sociology, and educational administration. Among the articles are one averring that educational systems have important unique aspects and one proposing that the over-all community power structure is of little consequence for educational decision-making, along with calls for analysis of the local government. The final chapter is a multi-faceted discussion of the place of action research in a changing social system and makes a plea for joint interdisciplinary research by educators and social scientists.