2019 UAA Annual Conference

Over the last several decades John Mollenkopf has produced a prolific and vitally important set of works that have shaped the field of Urban Affairs in a variety of ways. His books are staples in the field, and ones that generations of scholars have learned from and will continue to learn from. While the specifics have varied over the years, the core of his work has always focused on how cities can be more progressive and equitable; and the forces that limit or constrain such progressive goals. His earlier work focused on urban politics and the ways in which conservative efforts have undermined more progressive or liberal policy agendas. This progressive-realist urban political economy framework continues to be an animating theme in his work – both his work in the academy and his work in New York City politics outside of the academy. His research has extended beyond this theme as well, and his work (with Dreier and Swanstrom) on metropolitan inequalities and inequities is both a classic in that genre and continued his focus on how metropolitan areas can be more progressive. Finally, his work on immigration has been path-breaking – both in terms of understanding the experiences and lives of second generation immigrants, and in terms of understanding how cities can, and should, incorporate immigrants into their political economies. In this way, the work on immigration continues the emphases on making cities more progressive he began with many years ago.


This panel will discuss the impacts and meanings of John Mollenkopf’s work and it enduring impact on the field of urban affairs.


Moderator: James DeFilippis, Rutgers University


Commentators: Kathe Newman, Rutgers University; Manuel Pastor, USC; Mara Sidney, Rutgers-Newark; Elizabeth Strom, University of South Florida; Todd Swanstrom, University of Missouri - St. Louis


John Mollenkopf, The Graduate Center, City University of New York; 2019 Recipient of the Contribution to the Field of Urban Affairs Awar