This seminar provides students with an in-depth reading of foundational and contemporary literature in racial and ethnic politics, urban/local governance, and democracy. The course aims to foster a critical understanding of power dynamics within U.S. Municipal governments, delving into both formal political structures and informal political processes. Through this exploration, students will examine how different groups wield power and attain – or fail to attain – representation in the urban landscape. During our 16-weeks together we will watch HBO’s acclaimed series, The Wire, utilizing the material as a more than possible representation of a racially diverse American City dealing with modern day issues of public policy and (dys)functional systems within local government. Think about the addition of this show into this course as a dramatized case study of a city’s socio/political issues that will guide our questions and approach to the study of urban politics and policy. We will discuss the assigned episodes and relate the themes we observe to the week’s readings, focusing on the ways in which power is structured, demonstrated, and ultimately wielded. This seminar equips students with the skills to analyze and comprehend the challenges presented by an uneven representational terrain to the principles of democracy. Moreover, the course places a strong emphasis on practical application by training students to tackle real-world policy challenges. This will be accomplished through presentations, writing and research related assignments as well as, fruitful in-class and online discussion.