Governing States and Localities - Brossura

“Governing States and Localities is an excellent, full-coverage textbook that successfully highlights the variation of states across time and space. The authors provide many interesting and current real-life examples to highlight the relevancy of the material. The text has a strong analytical and empirical focus, while remaining accessible and engaging.” (Andrea McAtee)

“This is the best book I have encountered on state and local government. Smith and Greenblatt combine a wealth of information on states and localities in a variety of different ways, including the presentation of engaging vignettes, illuminating statistical charts, and the latest research on major topics in the field. At the same time, they build students’ skills so that they can consider the information from a comparative perspective. What more can you ask for?” (Douglas Kuberski)

“Governing States and Localities is the best state and local textbook available. It is flexible and adaptable to suit a variety of instructor strengths. Student responses to the book have always been very positive. The comparative approach comes across vividly through analytical presentation and engaging vignettes, and the content is well-written and visually inviting.” (Scott Moore)

“Governing States and Localities is engaging and informative. The authors balance different ideological perspectives in this solid introduction to state and local government. This book will always serve as a good resource for future research to any student who holds on to it.” (Michael Bobic)

Kevin B. Smith is professor and chair of the political science department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has been studying and teaching state politics and policy for more than twenty years. He has authored or co-authored nine books and dozens of scholarly articles, and is a former associate editor of State Politics & Policy Quarterly. Prior to becoming an academic he covered state and local politics as a newspaper reporter. 

Alan Greenblatt, a reporter at NPR, has been writing about politics and government in Washington and the states for more than a decade. He won the National Press Club’s Sandy Hume award for political journalism while reporting for Congressional Quarterly. During his years at Governing magazine, he covered issues of concern to state and local governments, including budgets, taxes, and higher education. Along the way, he has written about politics and culture for numerous other publications, including the Washington Post and the San Francisco Chronicle.