- Collection:
- Atlanta University and Clark Atlanta University Theses and Dissertations
- Title:
- The influence of nongovernmental, business, and interest group organizations on urban politics and policy making: a case study of the leadership role and influence of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, 1960-1978, 1979
- Creator:
- Farokhi, Nasrolah R.
- Date of Original:
- 1979-08-01
- Subject:
- Degrees, Academic
Dissertations, Academic - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.749, -84.38798
- Medium:
- theses
dissertations - Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Description:
- This study examined the numerous power structure studies that have been conducted throughout the United States as well as Atlanta, over the past three decades. These investigations basically revealed that the businessmen within the community most often wielded the power or influ-ence within the respective cities under study. This was especially true in Atlanta where they often operated through the business organization, known as the Chamber of Commerce. The researcher explored the leadership role of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce on local politics and policy. making in six issues from 1960 to the present. The overall changes of the Chamber's influence was examined in five mayoral elections from 1961 to 1977 in which three different persons were elected; the desegregation of public facilities, public elementary and secondary education, and employment.; the Civic Center Project, an outgrowth of urban renewal; and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. Background information on each of these issues was compiled and then a questionnaire was developed to determine the influence of the Chamber since 1960. This survey received, input from the opinions of three leadership groups. This population consisted of a political group who had been elected or appointed during the time studied, the ecomomic group who were involved primarily with local business, finance, or industry, and the specialist group who were the noneconomic professionals and civic organizational leaders. After examining the responses from the survey and ' lie information gathered on the background of the various issues, it appears that changes within the Atlanta community have tic- creased the power of the Chamber. Howevef, realistically what occurred was not a change in the Chamber's power of influence, but in their methods of influence. As a result the author concluded that the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce has retained a stable and constant influence on politics and policy making within the city government from 1960 to the present.
Date of award: 8/1/1979
Degree type: dissertation
Degree name: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Granting institution: Atlanta University
Department: Department of Political Science - Metadata URL:
- http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12322/cau.td:1979_farokhi_nasrolah_r
- Holding Institution:
- Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library
- Rights:
-
