Second Metropolis
Pragmatic Pluralism in Gilded Age Chicago, Silver Age Moscow, and Meiji Osaka

This book explores how social fragmentation led to pluralistic public policies in Chicago, Moscow, and Osaka.

Blair A. Ruble (Author)

9780521801799, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 28 May 2001

484 pages, 39 b/w illus.
23.8 x 16.2 x 3.7 cm, 0.784 kg

"Second Metropolis is conceptually interesting....Ruble has written a work of history." Slavic Review

By exploring and comparing North America's, Russia's, and Japan's 'second cities' - Chicago, Moscow, and Osaka - Second Metropolis discloses the extent to which social fragmentation, frequently viewed as an obstacle to democratic development, actually fostered a 'pragmatic pluralism' that nurtured pluralistic public policies. Such policies are explored through six case studies - the politics of street railways and charter reform in Chicago, adult education and housing in Moscow, and harbor revitalization and poverty alleviation in Osaka - that illustrate how even those with massive political and economic power were stymied by the complexity of their communities. Chicago, Moscow, and Osaka, though the products of very different nations and cultures, nonetheless shared an important experience of inclusive politics during an era of extraordinary growth and social diversity. The success of all three cities, which went well beyond mere survival, rested on a distinctive political resource: pragmatic pluralism.

Preface
1. Introduction: from hegemony to pragmatic pluralism
Part I. Three Industrial Giants: 2. Porkopolis
3. Russia's calico heart
4. Kitchen of the country
Part II. Tales of Success and Excess: 5. Transit tussles
6. Educating Moscow's workers
7. Prosperity's harbor
Part III. Riots and Revolution: 8. Charter failure
9. The worst-housed city in Europe
10. Poverty and riots
Part IV. Conclusion: 11. Successful pragmatic pluralists: the practice of politics without hegemony
12. The practice of pragmatic pluralism: the city, transitional capitalism, and the meaning of Moscow.

Subject Areas: Educational: Citizenship & social education [YQN], General & world history [HBG]