Research 3 - Theory of the City

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Dec 6, 2023

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LITERATURE ASSESSMENT Helms School of Government, Liberty University. PADM 704: Studies in Urban Planning and State and Local Government (D02) Professor: Dr. Scott Stenzel. September 2023. Author Note I have no known conflict of interest to disclose. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to: Email: @libe r ty.edu Theory of the City 1

The Theory of the City: Summary, Critics, Analysis, Evolution, and its Influences from other Countries The Theory of the City was developed by Chicago School sociologists in the early 20th century. It postulates that cities are organic and evolving entities that grow and change over time. This theory also emphasizes the importance of understanding the social, economic, and physical factors that shape urban planning and development. This theory shows that some phenomena correlate more positively to city size than others and it also tries to explain how cities develop and change over time based on the interactions of some social, economic, and physical factors. Before delving into details, it is expedient to define urban planning, which is a practice that aims to design, manage, and regulate the built environment and the use of public space in urban areas. Urban planning can benefit from this theory by understanding the historical and contextual factors that influence urban growth and the challenges and opportunities that cities face in different stages of development. Urban planning sometimes uses the theory to compare and contrast other urban planning models like the Concentric Zone Model, the Sector Theory, and the Multiple Nuclei Theory and to evaluate their strengths and limitations in addressing urban problems. Urban planning can also draw specific knowledge from the Theory of the City to adopt a holistic and dynamic perspective on urban issues rather than a static and deterministic one. Many key figures have contributed to developing the theory of the city, but the most influential ones are Robert E. Park (1864-1944), Ernest Burgess (1886-1966), and Patrick Geddes (1854- 1932). Many contemporary urban geographers like Ananya Roy, Neil Brenner, and Manuel Castells challenged the Theory of the City, while others proposed alternative models and perspectives to understand urban theory. Some challenges and criticisms include:

 The theory is based on the concentric zone model, which does not account for the diversity and complexity of urban forms and patterns (Dawes et al., 2017).  The theory assumes that social disorganization, or the breakdown of social bonds and norms, is the leading cause of crime and delinquency in urban areas. However, this assumption ignores other factors influencing crime rates, such as poverty, inequality, discrimination, culture, and individual choices (Dawes et al., 2017).  The theory relies on ecological and spatial analysis, which uses maps and statistics to show the distribution of crime and delinquency across urban areas. However, this method does not capture urban life's social and cultural dimensions, the historical and political contexts of urban development, and the issues of class, race, gender, and ethnicity (Dawes et al., 2017).  The theory assumes that cities are homogeneous and isotropic entities that grow in concentric rings, ignoring the effects of physical features, historical contexts, and spatial variations on urban development (Dawes et al., 2017).  The theory focuses on the quantitative aspects of urban phenomena, such as population size, density, and growth rate, while overlooking the qualitative aspects, such as culture, identity, and meaning (Dawes et al., 2017).  The theory fails to account for the dynamics and interactions of urban systems, such as the impact of globalization, technology, and migration on urban change (Dawes et al., 2017).  The theory does not address the power, inequality, and conflict issues that shape urban life, such as the role of class, race, gender, and ethnicity in urban stratification (Dawes et al., 2017).

While the Theory of the City has suffered many critics and challenges, it has also influenced urban planning practices in various ways, such as: 1. It inspired the development of other urban models, such as the Concentric Zone Model by Ernest Burgess, which divides the city into five concentric rings based on land use and social characteristics. 2. It provided a framework for understanding the social ecology of cities, such as how different groups of people interact with each other and their environment and how urban problems such as crime, poverty, and segregation emerge and can be addressed. 3. It stimulated researchers' interest in urban sociology and urban anthropology, which are disciplines that study the culture, behavior, and dynamics of urban populations and how they are influenced by and influence urban development (UDB, 2023). 4. It encouraged the use of empirical research and quantitative methods in urban planning, such as surveys, statistics, and maps, to collect and analyze data on urban phenomena and inform planning decisions (UDB, 2023). As everything in life experiences and undergoes evolution, the Theory of the City has undergone its fair share, thus giving rise to some "modern Theories of the City," which reflect the changing dynamics and challenges of urbanization in the 21st century. These modern theories include the Global City, the Creative City, the Sustainable City, and the Smart City theories (UDB, 2023). Different countries and cultures have also influenced the development of this theory in various ways, depending on their historical, social, economic, and environmental contexts. Examples of how other countries have influenced the Theory of City include:  European urban planning and design: The U.S. inherited many urban forms and patterns from its colonial and immigrant origins, mainly from Britain, France, Spain, and

Germany. These include the grid layout, the central business district, the public square, the boulevard, and the garden city. Some influential European urban theorists and practitioners who shaped American urbanism are Ebenezer Howard, Patrick Geddes, Le Corbusier, and Jane Jacobs.  Latin American urbanization and social movements: The U.S. has been influenced by Latin America's rapid urbanization and social mobilization, especially in the second half of the 20th century. Some issues that emerged from this context are urban poverty, inequality, informality, violence, environmental degradation, and participatory democracy. Some influential Latin American urban thinkers and activists who influenced American urbanism are Oscar Lewis, Enrique Peñalosa, Jaime Lerner, and David Harvey.  Asian urban growth and innovation: The U.S. has been influenced by Asia's unprecedented urban growth and innovation, especially in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Some challenges and opportunities emerged from this context are urban sprawl, megacities, smart cities, sustainability, and globalization. Some influential Asian urban leaders and scholars who influenced American urbanism are Lee Kuan Yew, Saskia Sassen, Parag Khanna, and Rem Koolhaas. The Right to the City Theory: Summary, Critics, Analysis, Evolution, and its Influences from other Countries The Right to the City theory is a concept that proposes that urban inhabitants should have a democratic and participatory role in shaping and transforming the cities they live in according to their needs, desires, and aspirations. French philosopher Henri Lefebvre originally developed the theory in his 1968 book Le Droit à la Ville, where he wrote that the Right to the City is "a cry

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