Determinants of Policy Conflict in Michigan Municipalities

Recent literature on the governance of communities reveals a great deal of divisiveness and conflict among governmental and other political actors over questions of policy. In this study, the authors measure and explain the perceived level of policy conflict on city councils. The authors use data from a survey of approximately 1,430 municipal officers representing 92 Michigan municipalities with populations greater than 10,000 to measure conflict. This research focuses on the perceptions of city council members and mayors. Using multivariate statistical techniques, the authors find that respondent demographic characteristics, citywide conditions, and structural factors influence council member and mayoral perceptions of policy conflict.