When pundits refer to the death of community, they are speaking of a number of social ills, which include, but are not limited to, the general increase in isolation and cynicism of our citizens, widespread concerns about declining political participation and membership in civic organizations, and periodic outbursts of small town violence. Making a Place for Community argues that this death of community is being caused by contemporary policies that, if not changed, will continue to foster the decline of community. Increased capital flow between nations is not at the root of the problem, however, increased capital flow within our nation is. Small towns shouldn't have to hope for a prison to open nearby and downtown centers shouldn't sit empty as suburban sparwl encroaches, but they do and it's a result of widely agreed upon public policies.

Gar Alperovitz, the Lionel R. Bauman Professor of Political Economy at the University of Maryland, has a leading voice in the communitarian movement for 30 years. His book, The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb is the definitive history of the subject. He serves on the editorial board of Tikkun, and his articles appear frequently in The Nation, The Boston Review and TheWashington Post. Thad Williamson is a researcher at Harvard University. He has written for The Nation, InThese Times and Monthly Review. David L. Imbroscio is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Louisville.

Forward: Benjamin BarberPreface: Toward the Reconstruction of American Community and DemocracyPart I.The triple Threat to Community and DemocracyIntroduction: The Case for Community Economic Stability: Economics and Political-Economics1.Globalization and Free trade2.The Chase for Jobs3.The Challenge of SprawlPart II.Place-Based Policy AlternativesNote to Part II4.Federal Job Stabilizing Policies5. Conventional Strategies6.State and Municipal Enterprise 7.Local MunicipalitiesPart III.Place-Based Economic StructuresNote to Part III8.Supporting Employee Ownership9.Community Development Corporations and Community Development Financial Institutions10. Alternative Ownership Models:Non-Profits and Co-Ops11. Community Land trusts and Community AgriculturePart IV. The Global ContextNote to Part IV.12.Restructuring Global Economic Institutions13.Alternative Approaches to TradeConclusion: Political-Economic Policies for the Next Stage of Democratic Development