Civic+Capacity+Theory

Title: Civic Capacity Theory Submitted by: Jonah Liebert

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Central Tenets:

This is the idea that power can be shared; that democratic politics can serve as a viable means of solving community problems; that an eclectic mix of influential actors can come together around the shared goal of school reform. A core underlying supposition of this theory is that power is not a zero-sum game, there is a power "to" accomplish a shared goal or solve a shared problem. Thus, although we may all be acting in our own self-interest, we benefit most from solving our collective problem.

References:

Clarence N. Stone, Jeffrey R. Henig, Bryan D. Jones, and Carol Pierannunzi. 2001. Building Civic Capacity The Politics of Reforming Urban Schools. University of Kansas Press. Stone, Clarence N. 2004. Civic Capacity: What, Why and Whence. Chapter in Institutions of Democracy: Public Education.

Shipps, D. 2003. Pulling Together: Civic Capacity and Urban School Reform. American Educational Research Journal. Vol. 40, No. 4. Jeffrey R. Henig, Richard C. Hula, Marion Orr, Desiree S. Pedescleaux. 2001. The Color of School Reform: Race, Politics, and the Challenge of Urban Education. Princeton University Press.
 * References applying the framework: **