Publication Date

Spring 4-27-2026

Document Type

Restricted

Abstract

This thesis investigates the personalized framing of eminent domain in the United States Supreme Court case of Kelo v. City of New London (2005), and how it reveals how the concept of home is constructed and challenged. Political schools of thought such as Marxism, social democratic, and market-based ideologies drive housing politics. These ideologies are analyzed through a media analysis of frontpage coverage from 2000 to 2008 surrounding Kelo, in The Day, New London’s independent newspaper. Kelo revealed broader frameworks of housing politics, and the contemporary housing crisis intensified these tensions. By examining the housing crisis as both a policy failure and a test of democratic processes, existing frameworks fall short because competing interests drive them. No single solution can fully eliminate these tensions, yet a more participatory approach can halt further harm. The question is not whether these frameworks can be unified, but rather whether they can be explored for small points of ideological convergence, as housing is the issue of our time. As a result, this thesis provides the groundwork for understanding housing solutions and how engaged civic optimism can provide real frameworks for change.

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The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the author.