Following a year of surging violent crime and other chaos, many American cities are struggling with a collapse of the hard-won public order they have enjoyed for the past two decades. What is at the root of this disorder, and what lessons does the past provide for addressing it? In this course, students will delve into the urban crisis of the late twentieth-century, then apply its lessons to the challenges our cities face today. We will discuss the many reasons crime fell and cities became safe, and we will study the experience of Jews in urban renewal. And we’ll explore the debates about crime and policing today: how do we balance fears about crime with fears about police abuse? How should we think about the role of police in a free society?

This course is supported by Judy Fleischer, as part of the Fleischer Forum initiative on American civilization.