it is the assignment for the Course learning Politics of Centralization and decentralization in U.S.
Read the three readings below and write the reading reflection answering the questions in prompts.
Readings:
- Lipsky, Michael. 1971. “Street-Level Bureaucracy and the Analysis of Urban Reform.” Urban Affairs Quarterly, 6(4): 391-409.
- Berkman, M. and Plutzer, E. 2011. “Local Autonomy Versus State Constraints: Balancing Evolution and Creationism in U.S. High Schools.” Publius: The Journal of Federalism, 41(4): 610-635.
- Marschall, M. et al. 2011. “Do State Policies Constrain Local Actors? The Impact of English Only Laws on Language Instruction in Public Schools.” Publius: The Journal of Federalism, 41(4): 586-609.
Prompts:
- In light of the fact that most people rail against them, why do we have bureaucracies at all?
- Is it a good thing or a bad thing if street level bureaucrats have the discretion to shape how policy actually takes shape?
- Are stronger and more centralized bureaucracies a source of threat or a source of protection to politically marginalized groups? (If that depends on other factors…what are those other factors)?