Montgomery History to Present ‘Nation’s Metropolis: The Economy, Politics, and Development of the Washington Region

In the presentation, which was originally created in July 2023, the authors employ an interdisciplinary approach that draws from economics, political science, sociology, geography and history.

To access the presentation starting Monday, April 1, go to https://montgomeryhistory.org/event/history-conversations-rewind-nations-metropolis-the-economy-politics-and-development-of-the-washington-region/.

In their book authors Hanson and Wolman focus on four major themes: the Federal government as the region’s basic industry and its role in economic, physical and political development; race as a core force in the development of the metropolis; the mismatch of the governance and economy of the National Capital Region; and the conundrum of achieving fully democratic governance for Washington, D.C.

The authors concluded that the institutions and practices that accrued over the 19th and 20th centuries are inadequate for dealing effectively with the issues confronting the city and the region in the 21st Century. They said the accumulation of problems arising from the unique role of the Federal government and the persistent problem of racial inequality has been compounded by failure to resolve the conundrum of governance for the District of Columbia. They recommend rethinking the governance of the entire region.

While many books are concerned with the city of Washington, Nation’s Metropolis is the only book focused on the development and political economy of the metropolitan region as a whole.