URBAN SOCIETY
UNIT – 1
Introduction
1.1 Meaning of urban society
1.2 Growth and development of urban society
1.3 Urbanization and Urbanism
Introduction:
A society that is typical of modern industrial civilization and heterogeneous
in cultural tradition.
Urban sociology is one of the newly developed branch of sociology dealing
with the sociological study of the urban life.
Urban sociology is the sociological study of life and human interaction in
metropolitan areas.
It is a normative discipline of sociology seeking to study the structures,
environment processes, changes and problems of urban area and by doing so
provide inputs for urban planning and policy making.
It is the sociological study of cities and their role in the development of
society.
An urban living is similar to having the facilities of modern social life.
Social interaction is fast and formal.
The rate of social change is faster due to education in, technology, industry
and urbanization.
, A complex social life is found in which the people or different races,
professions, castes and religions live together.
A study of the interaction occurring between the urban environment and the
development of human personality, under urban influence.
Definitions of urban society:
The word ‘Urban’ has been defined in the Oxford Dictionary as pertaining to
city or town life. The term urban is derived from the latin word ‘urbs’
meanng a ‘city’.
Urban Sociology is “a science of city life.”
According to Hobhouse “ Urban sociology as the specialized study of city
life and problems”.
E.Bergel defined “Urban Sociology deals with the impact of the city life on
social actions, social relationships, social institutions and the type of
civilization, derived from and based on urban mode of living.”
Max Weber, the German sociologist in his book ‘The City’, defined Urban
Sociology” as a whole system characterized by complex order of social
actions, social relations and social institutions. It has following features – a
market, a fortification, a complicated legal system, including a court and an
elected body of administration.”
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF URBAN SOCIETY:
Urban sociology is a branch of sociology. As sociology itself is of recent
origin urban sociology is much younger than sociology.
Urban sociology as a systematic study saw its development in the 20th
century in America.
Most of the work on urban sociology has been carried out in the USA,
because by 1920 more Americans lived in cities than in rural areas.
, The rapid process of urbanization that took place from the late 19th century
through the first part of the 20th century has tremendous importance (both
symbolic and real) since it marks the emergence of the USA as an urban
nation.
‘Urban sociology’ emerged as an attempt to understand this process, and the
consequences that it had for social life. And at the core of this field was the
increasingly prominent and rapidly growing American city”.
For years to come, the city would remain the hub of modern, social,
political, economic and cultural activity; a place regarded by many as the
centerpiece of ‘modern civilization.’
Moreover, while another process, sub-urbanization, was well on its way as
early as the 1930s throughout the first-half of this century, the city remained
as the heart and soul of urban life and, as such, it remained the single most
important subject of urban sociology.
In the post-War era, in America, however, the structure of urban life
changed.
Political decisions, economic conditions and technological developments—
the very same forces that had combined in an earlier era to produce massive
utilization and city growth—brought about a reversal of fortunes to the
‘great city.’ By the 1970s, major cities across America were in crisis.
Their once proud and bustling central areas had become economically
depressed and had fallen into disrepair.
Unemployment, homelessness, crime, pollution, substandard housing,
inadequate public transportation and infrastructure had become the
trademarks of inner cities and downtown districts throughout the USA.
Many of the activities and functions once associated with the city, had
become decentralized.
The suburbs, which up until then had merely been single-function,
‘dormitory’ zones, took over as economic and cultural destinations.
UNIT – 1
Introduction
1.1 Meaning of urban society
1.2 Growth and development of urban society
1.3 Urbanization and Urbanism
Introduction:
A society that is typical of modern industrial civilization and heterogeneous
in cultural tradition.
Urban sociology is one of the newly developed branch of sociology dealing
with the sociological study of the urban life.
Urban sociology is the sociological study of life and human interaction in
metropolitan areas.
It is a normative discipline of sociology seeking to study the structures,
environment processes, changes and problems of urban area and by doing so
provide inputs for urban planning and policy making.
It is the sociological study of cities and their role in the development of
society.
An urban living is similar to having the facilities of modern social life.
Social interaction is fast and formal.
The rate of social change is faster due to education in, technology, industry
and urbanization.
, A complex social life is found in which the people or different races,
professions, castes and religions live together.
A study of the interaction occurring between the urban environment and the
development of human personality, under urban influence.
Definitions of urban society:
The word ‘Urban’ has been defined in the Oxford Dictionary as pertaining to
city or town life. The term urban is derived from the latin word ‘urbs’
meanng a ‘city’.
Urban Sociology is “a science of city life.”
According to Hobhouse “ Urban sociology as the specialized study of city
life and problems”.
E.Bergel defined “Urban Sociology deals with the impact of the city life on
social actions, social relationships, social institutions and the type of
civilization, derived from and based on urban mode of living.”
Max Weber, the German sociologist in his book ‘The City’, defined Urban
Sociology” as a whole system characterized by complex order of social
actions, social relations and social institutions. It has following features – a
market, a fortification, a complicated legal system, including a court and an
elected body of administration.”
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF URBAN SOCIETY:
Urban sociology is a branch of sociology. As sociology itself is of recent
origin urban sociology is much younger than sociology.
Urban sociology as a systematic study saw its development in the 20th
century in America.
Most of the work on urban sociology has been carried out in the USA,
because by 1920 more Americans lived in cities than in rural areas.
, The rapid process of urbanization that took place from the late 19th century
through the first part of the 20th century has tremendous importance (both
symbolic and real) since it marks the emergence of the USA as an urban
nation.
‘Urban sociology’ emerged as an attempt to understand this process, and the
consequences that it had for social life. And at the core of this field was the
increasingly prominent and rapidly growing American city”.
For years to come, the city would remain the hub of modern, social,
political, economic and cultural activity; a place regarded by many as the
centerpiece of ‘modern civilization.’
Moreover, while another process, sub-urbanization, was well on its way as
early as the 1930s throughout the first-half of this century, the city remained
as the heart and soul of urban life and, as such, it remained the single most
important subject of urban sociology.
In the post-War era, in America, however, the structure of urban life
changed.
Political decisions, economic conditions and technological developments—
the very same forces that had combined in an earlier era to produce massive
utilization and city growth—brought about a reversal of fortunes to the
‘great city.’ By the 1970s, major cities across America were in crisis.
Their once proud and bustling central areas had become economically
depressed and had fallen into disrepair.
Unemployment, homelessness, crime, pollution, substandard housing,
inadequate public transportation and infrastructure had become the
trademarks of inner cities and downtown districts throughout the USA.
Many of the activities and functions once associated with the city, had
become decentralized.
The suburbs, which up until then had merely been single-function,
‘dormitory’ zones, took over as economic and cultural destinations.
