This collection presents a comparative study on the emerging regional nature of local and urban politics in the United States. Recent studies have tended to focus on the politics and power of inner cities or on suburban areas which have gained incredible strength in the past decade. Regional Politics, however, explores how politics works in the extended metropolis which both includes and surrounds the urban core and whose economy, society and politics are integrally joined. Through detailed case studies of 10 cities in the US, the book: looks at the development of regional patterns; analyzes the impact regionalism has on urban politics; and outlines an overall approach.