Abstract

This lack of participation, low trust and failure to invest in community wide institutions allows corrupt politics to emerge in poor inner cities and rural communities, and then that bad politics in turn becomes an obstacle to change and development. Those in charge see schools and local government as sources of patronage jobs and political power rather than as public institutions to serve the common good. Politics and political forces become part of the problem instead of part of the solution. Only investment and organizing can turn the poor community around and provide real opportunity for low income residents to succeed.

Publication Date

2008

Series

University Dialogue 2008. The Growing Divide: A University Dialogue on Poverty and Opportunity.

Publisher

Durham, NH: Discovery Program, University of New Hampshire

Document Type

Article

Rights

Copyright 2008. The University of New Hampshire Discovery Program.

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