Evan McKenzie

Evan McKenzie is a Professor and Department Head in the Department of Political Science at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). His research focuses on urban politics, public law, and American politics, with an emphasis on privatization of residential governance, condominium associations, and municipal policy challenges. He holds a PhD from the University of Southern California (1989) and a JD from UCLA Law School (1975).

McKenzie has held notable roles, including a 1996-97 Faculty Fellowship at UIC’s Great Cities Institute and former membership in the UIC Council for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. His work explores the intersection of private residential governance and public policy, particularly in contexts like Chicago’s urban governance and condominium deconversion trends.

Recent research examines the financial sustainability of private residential governments and the erosion of local democratic structures. His 2021 book Private Metropolis critiques the decline of municipal authority in urban areas. Key themes in his work include urban polarization, enclave formation, and the legal frameworks governing common interest developments.

McKenzie has received the American Political Science Association’s Best Book Award in Urban Politics for his 1994 work Privatopia. His scholarship spans decades, addressing topics like suburban desegregation, gated communities, and municipal policy conflicts. Current projects include studies on special districts as alternatives to municipalities and the privatization of public infrastructure.