American cities and the politics of party conventions / Eric S. Heberlig, Suzanne M. Leland, and David Swindell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Heberlig, Eric S., 1970- author.

Leland, Suzanne M., 1971- author.

Swindell, David, 1966- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political conventions--United States--Planning.

Political conventions.

Political conventions--Social aspects--United States.

City planning--United States.

City planning.

Social aspects.

Planning.

United States.

Physical Description:

ix, 243 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Albany : State University of New York Press, [2017]

Summary:

Political party conventions have lost much of their original political nature, serving now primarily as elaborate infomercials while ratifying the decisions made by voters in state primaries and caucuses. While this activity hasn't changed significantly since the 1970s, conventions themselves have changed significantly in terms of how they are recruited, implemented, and paid for American Cities and the Politics of Party Conventions analyzes how and why cities advance through the site selection process. Just as parties use conventions to communicate their policies, unity, and competence to the electorate, cities use the convention selection process to communicate their merits to political parties, businesses, and residents. While hosting such a "mega-event" provides some direct economic stimulus for host cities, the major benefit of the convention is the opportunity it provides for branding and signaling status. Combining a case studies approach as well as interviews with party and local officials, Eric S. Heberlig, Suzanne M. Leland, and David Swindell bring party convention scholarship up to date while highlighting the costs and benefits of hosting such events for tourism bureaus, city administrators, elected officials, and the citizens they represent. Book jacket.

Contents:

Who wants circus politicus?

Matchmaking : the politics of site selection

Paying for conventions

Unconventional conventions : protests, hurricanes and other logistical nightmares

The political benefits of political conventions

Conventions as economic development : do they matter?

Generating support for mega-events.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Heberlig, Eric S., 1970- American cities and the politics of party conventions.

ISBN:

9781438466392

1438466390

OCLC:

973199429