Urbanization Study of processes of urbanization in sociology is called urban sociology. Urbanization is the process of increase in the percentage of a population living in cities. A city is a densely settled concentration of people. 5/17/2002 1
Historical city Cities needed an accumulated surplus wealth so that people could be free from producing food. A food surplus was needed so that people could abandon agriculture and take up other roles like merchant or craft worker. Also needed systems of transportation and food storage. First cities: 3500 BC. Rise of Roman Empire spread cities through Europe. Walled, government centers more like towns. Kinship networks concentrated crafts/trades into specialized occupations, processes of extending territory, seats of religion, education, waste management?. 5/17/2002 2
Modern developing city 40 percent of world s population is urban. Traditional, developing societies: Urban primacy where main city (primate city) dominates society but country rural. Result of natural increases and migration from rural to urban. Pull factors mean better in city than rural creates squatters. Creates cycle of migration and poverty. 5/17/2002 3
Modern industrial city Slower growth than developing contexts with no primate city. Models of city growth: concentric zone cities grow in series of rings; sector irregular sectors from center; multiple nuclei several areas of specialized uses. 5/17/2002 4
Metropolis Metropolis: urban area containing a city and its surrounding suburbs communities with metropolitan areas outside central city. Metropolitan statistical area MSA is any areas that contains city and suburbs. Megalopolis: a giant metropolitan area complex that functions like a single urban community. Example corridor from D.C. to New York City. Florida? Global city: organizations in city proper which run worldwide economy through financial transactions, exchange of services, communications. 5/17/2002 5
Urbanism is the nature and meaning of city life; patterns of social life found in cities. Urban community: social group with common territory, shared interests, sense of belonging. German sociologist Ferdinand Toennies: gemeinschaft people well connected to each other; and gesellschaft social life based on practical, impersonal interests. U.S. Louis Wirth: urban life depends on size (large numbers mean interact from roles not personalities), density (transactions brief, transitory, fast, overstimulation) heterogeneity (diversity means greater tolerance). 5/17/2002 6
Residential segregation By race and class. Between 1940-1989 percent of people living in suburbs doubled; rich lived in suburbs, poor in inner cities until gentrification richer move back into inner cities to renovate them. 5/17/2002 7
City/urban planning Government policies meant to regulate and plan urban development: urban sprawl or planned growth? Effects on environment? Wetlands, forests. Problems when so many fragmented city governments without coordination (voting systems?). Los Angeles has a central city govt., LA County has 9 other city govts, 67 smaller self-governing communities. Other effects? How education gets structured (who s in charge? Who pays?) 5/17/2002 8
Human ecology The science of the relationship between people and their environments Technology has threatened ecosystems self-sustaining communities of organisms in nature. Technology is the practical application of scientific knowledge. It has led to progress (biotech/biomed) but it also has unintended consequences of human made technologies, ex. Chernobyl 5/17/2002 9
Ecological approach: POET *P Population analyze patterns *O Organization how is urban life organized *E Environment what are the critical concerns of environment (ex. Everglades) *T Technology figure out unintended consequences on environment 5/17/2002 10
Environmental studies and action University studies of environment focus on understanding issues like recycling Action in environmental social movements seeks to get people to recycle 5/17/2002 11