Neighborhoods Matter by Carrie Levan

Neighborhoods Matter by Carrie Levan

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.

"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 activitiesIt'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

Carrie LeVan is the Montgoris Family Associate 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.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781479834389
ISBN 10	1479834386
Title	Neighborhoods Matter
Author	Carrie Levan
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	New York University Press
Year published	2026-04-21
Number of pages	368
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.