The Case of the Ivanpah Airport
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UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-2002 Power and political process: The case of the Ivanpah Airport Amy Gayle Walker University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Walker, Amy Gayle, "Power and political process: The case of the Ivanpah Airport" (2002). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 1407. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/4iv4-5kvy This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. 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Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. ProQuest Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Artxar, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 UMI Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. POWER AND POLITICAL PROCESS: THE CASE OF THE IVANPAH AIRPORT by Amy Walker Bachelor of Science University of Tennessee, Chattanooga 1995 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts Degree Department of Sociology College of Liberal Arts Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas August 2002 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number 1411225 UMT UMI Microform 1411225 Copyright 2003 by ProQuest Information and Leaming Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17. United States Code. ProQuest Information and Leaming Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Copyright by Amy Walker 2002 All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Thesis Approval ITNTV The Graduate College University ot Nevada, Las Vegas May 13 20 02 The Thesis prepared by Amy W a lk e r Entitled Power and Political Process: The Case of the Ivanpah Valley Airport is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Sociology Examination Committee Chair Dean of the Graduate College Examination Committee Mejrriier Examination Committee Member Graduate College Faculty Representative 1017- ^ u Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT Power and Political Process: The Case Of the Ivanpah Valley Airport by Amy Walker Dr. Robert Futrell, Examination Committee Chair Assistant Professor of Sociology University of Nevada, Las Vegas This thesis examines power and political processes involved in the decision to construct a second commercial airport for Las Vegas, NV and the southem Nevada region. Using interview data and document analysis I argue that the organizational capacity of the state and its relative autonomy enabled state actors to dominate the airport’s development process by defining the need and setting the agenda for the project. Additionally, state officials acquired the land for the project by circumventing established mechanisms for public participation and involvement. The findings support a state-centered approach to understanding who wields power and how in political processes. Ultimately, the case raises issues about the state’s efforts to quell conflict by thwarting democratic involvement of citizens in this highly significant land development decision. Ill Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT.............................................................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS....................................................................................... vi CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................1 The Setting ......................................................................................................... 2 Las Vegas Growth Through Tourism and Air Travel ........................................7 A New Airport: Costs and Benefits ................................................................. 11 The Argument .................................................................................................. 14 CHAPTER 2 THEORETICAL MODELS.......................................................... 19 Land Development in the Socio-Political Context ........................................... 19 Power ............................................................................................................... 21 Pluralist Theory ................................................................................................23 State-Centered Theory .................................................................................... 26 Class-Based Theory .........................................................................................31 Recent Case Study Research ......................................................................... 36 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 39 CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY......................................................................... 43 The Case Study Approach ..............................................................................43 M ethods ........................................................................................................... 47 Locus of Power ................................................................................................55 Class-Based Methodology .............................................................................. 57 Pluralist Methodology ...................................................................................... 59 State-Centered Methodology ..........................................................................60 CHAPTER 4 THE DECISION TO BUILD THE IVANPAH AIRPORT.............. 63 The Power of Bureaucratic Autonomy: Clark County Department of Aviation ............................................................:.............................................................64 Result of Autonomy: CCDA Defines the Need for a New Airport .................67 Airport Decision Made, Location Next ............................................................ 73 Ivanpah in the State-Centered View................................................................79 CHAPTER 5 THE NEXT STEP: ACQUIRING THE LAND............................. 84 Land Acquisition in Southem Nevada............................................................ 84 The Decision to Pursue Legislation .................................................................87 The State Benefits From the “End Around” .................................................... 91 CHAPTER 6 THE IVANPAH LEGISLATION .................................................... 95 IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. The 105* Congress ..........................................................................................96 The 106* Congress ........................................................................................ 106 State Power in the “End Around' ................................................................... I l l Who Benefits? ................................................................................................ 113 CHAPTER 7 CONCLUSION ........................................................................... 114 State Domination of the Ivanpah Valley Airport Development ..................... 115 Class-Based Aspects in this Case ................................................................ 117 Pluralist Aspects in this Case ........................................................................ 119 Citizen Participation and Democracy .........................................................