Doctoral Dissertation Research: Conflict, Collaboration, and Shared Community Interests

SES-1303625 John Levi MartinJan Doering芝加哥大学安全是一项理想的公共产品，它可以激励不同背景的居民进行合作。然而，犯罪和安全问题也可能是分裂的，因为有色人种（特别是非洲裔美国人）的居民可能会感到暴露在社区的审查和怀疑的不公平份额。本研究调查的原因，过程和后果的冲突和协作的基层公共安全组织在两个跨种族的芝加哥社区。由于公共安全工作可能会将不同的居民团结在一个共同的事业周围，也会使他们彼此疏远，公共安全组织的情况允许在当地安全倡议的背景下对社区进行调查，从和平圈到邻里守望巡逻。通过比较设计，这项研究隔离的原因，过程和结果的冲突和合作，在一系列基层公共安全组织。采用了三种互补的数据收集战略：参与者观察、深入访谈和收集次级数据，如组织会议记录和人口普查数据。更广泛的影响这项研究有助于对犯罪的看法，种族关系，在不同的城市环境和日常生活的公共话语。结果将与更广泛的公众分享。特别是，将提出战略，以最大限度地提高公共安全工作的包容性，同时最大限度地减少其分裂性。这些建议将提交给公民领袖、社区组织者和决策者。

SES-1303625John Levi MartinJan DoeringUniversity of Chicago Safety is a desirable public good that gives residents of different backgrounds an incentive to collaborate. Yet, issues of crime and safety can also be divisive, as residents of color (particularly African Americans) may feel exposed to an unjust share of the community's scrutiny and suspicion. This study investigates the causes, processes, and consequences of conflict and collaboration in grassroots public safety organizations in two interracial Chicago neighborhoods. Since public safety work may rally diverse residents around a common cause, as well as alienate them from one another, the case of public safety organizations allows for an investigation of community in the context of local safety initiatives, from peace circles to neighborhood watch patrols. Through a comparative design, this study isolates the causes, processes, and outcomes of conflict and collaboration across a range of grassroots public safety organizations. Three complementary strategies of data collection are employed: participant observation, in-depth interviewing, and the gathering of secondary data, such as organizational minutes and Census data. Broader ImpactsThe study contributes to the public discourse on perceptions of crime, race relations, and everyday life in diverse urban environments. Results will be shared with the wider public. In particular, strategies will be proposed for maximizing the inclusivity of public safety work while minimizing its divisiveness. These recommendations will be presented to civic leaders, community organizers, and policy makers.