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Introduction to Urban Sociology (Brief History of urban sociology ("…
Introduction to Urban Sociology
Brief History of
urban sociology
"The emergence of urban life as a critical phase in the rise of modern civilization" - V. Gordon Childe (1950, 1954)
Characteristics of ancient urbanization and urban revolution
increased population size and density
specialization in labor
social stratification
development of science
Classical Cities
Classical Rome, military power of state and ambitions of emperors
Mesopotamia, China were built on complex belief system and symbolic codes
Ancient Greece was constructed according to cosmological code
City of Athens to honour the goddes Athena and buildings followed by geometrical design (agora and hestia koine)
Medieval Order and Renaissance City
important symbolic space in the city centre (represent social dominance, economic, political interest)
competition among cities on political, economic and war safety
redevelopment of Rome served as model for urban planning during Renaissance
Capitalism and Rise of Industrial City
economy of feudal manor (simple economy production)
activities regulated by local government
allowed to hire labor and resources to produce goods
commercial relations, supported the accumulation of capital and cities
Terms and concepts
of urban sociology
Urban sociology is the sociological study of social life and human interaction in metropolitans
Researches use statistical analysis, observation, social theory and study a range of topics including migration, demographic trends, poverty, race relations
Sociologist such as Max Weber, Emile Durkheim focused on the increasing urbanization and effects on people's feelings of alienation and anonymity
Chicago School as a major influence in the study
Definition of city by Lewis Mumford (1961)
served as both huge magnets and containers that attracts people and economic activities/ wealth within well-defined bounded spaces
center of economic, political, culture, artistic
contains large population
people work, live and play in the cities
Significance of
urban sociology
To study a form of human settlement
To understand the modern existence
To understand the connection between city and culture
Socio spatial perspective and
sociological theories in urban studies
Urban and suburban settlement spaces have developed within larger metropolitan region
Settlement are linked to global system of capitalism
Spaces are affected by government policies, developers, financiers and real estate industry
Built environment are based on symbols, objects meaningful to them (semiotic)
Social class groups differ from one another (lifestyles, attitude, belief)
emphasizes on interaction between society and space
spatial arrangement influence human behavior
Emile Durkheim (Mechanical
and Organic Solidarity)
urbanites lack of social bonds, organize themselves differently
rural is mechanical solidarity = gemeinschaft, automatic relation
organic solidarity bonded by specialization and interdependence, joined by differences
urban society: individual choice, moral tolerance, personal privacy
Ferdinand Tonnies
Gemeinschaft
refers to community
has primary relationship
united in diversity
sense of togetherness
humane
strong bond
Gesellschaft
refers to association
has secondary relationship with each other
practice urban lifestyle
separated in union
selfishness
weal social relations
Friedrich Engels
(The Working Class)
Capitalism at work within urban space
double concentration at money, investment, workers
investment away to the periphery
unregulated capitalism produce spatial chaos due to the multiplication of centres
social problems created from the breakdown of traditional society, an operation of capitalism
survival of capitalism: neighbourhood, living-space relation, quality of daily life
Created spatial isolation of social classes = uneven development
Robert Park (Human Ecology)
Human ecology: study of human group adjustment to the environment process
social oganization of the city is the result of struggle for survival thus produced distinct and highly complex division of labour
divded into 2: biotic level (competition) and cultural level (cooperation)
Biotic level: social organization produced by competitors over scarce resources
Cultural level: cooperative values shared among people of similar background