The Role Of Academic Thinking Surrounding Cities

Closely associated with the process of globalisation is the notion of ‘World cities’. World cities are those such as London, New York and Tokyo where urban function has moved beyond the national scale to become a part of the international and global system. They are centres of culture, economics, employment, tourism, transport and communications and have been referred to as the command centres of the World’s borderless economy.

Urban studies aims to develop an understanding the modern city metropolis. As Savage et al. have pointed out, the urban encompasses far more than just the physical city itself; understanding the city help us to understand many aspects of modern life (2003, pp.4). Many of its features, such as mass media and public transport systems have spread throughout society over the past century. Sociological studies of urban life began with the landmark publication of 'The City' in 1925 by sociologists Robert Park, Ernest Burgess and Louis Wirth from the University of Chicago, students of Georg Simmel who shared his belief that the urban environment changed man's

A world city is a large city that has been outstripped its natural urban network and become part of an international global system. World cities have become the central connecting point for the multiplicity of linkages and interconnections that sustain the contemporary world economy, and its social and political systems. According to the 2004 GaWC studies world cities can be ranked based on their provision of ‘advanced producer services’ such as accountancy, advertising, finance and law. In 2008 the rankings according to the GaWC determined that London and New York were Alpha ++ cities whilst Sydney, Paris, Hong Kong and Singapore were Alpha

Urbanization is a concept that is deeply rooted in the increase in a population within a region in response to the availability of unique opportunities. The opportunities may include the availability of employment chances in factories, investments opportunities in the urban areas, and the presence of sufficient housing and social infrastructure. It is apparent that urbanization began centuries ago in different regions of the world. However, the development of suburban areas has also been an interesting phenomenon over the centuries. Initially, people strived to live in the luxurious houses in major towns and cities. Nevertheless, there was a gradual shift in the desire to live in the cities when various negative impacts of overpopulation

“Cities are not approached simply as forums for economic and political confrontations but as places rich with meaning and value for those who live, work, and play in and near them” (Borer 2006). People assign characteristics and personality to cities. These traits are assumed to be as permanent and concrete as the physical city (Borer 2010). However, like the characteristics of a person’s identity may change over time, the identity of places is fluid and dynamic (Borer

The speaker of this lecture is Alan Berube, who is a deputy director for metropolitan studies. He begins his presentation by explaining to the audience on what the metro programs focus on. Berube and the programs focuses on the well-being of major US cities. Next, he explains the main factors of inequality. The first factor is social justice which he defines not knowing where you will start in life and where you fit in a society that is suppose to be equal. Additionally, Economic growth plays a role in inequality because in extreme cases it may cause growth. Next, democratic health is determined by your level of wealth and the type of health care that is provided to you. Lastly, happiness in countries aren’t determined by wealth. Berube mentions

INTRODUCTION SENTENCE. Edward Glaeser is a Professor of Economics at Harvard University and a journalist for Bloomberg View, therefore he is well versed in the economics of cities, innovation, crime and more. In his widely known published book, "Triumph of the City: How our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Greener, Healthier, and Happier", he illustrates that cities have made civilization more successful with new technology and ideas. In the first chapter of his book, he explains how cities were created through sharing new ideas and technologies between intellectuals, especially when living within close proximities of other innovators, thereupon those within the innovative networks have built institutions to provide an education system to create more alike, and as a result of these key components, cities have helped and will continue to help the world thrive.

However our cities have developed clear divisions of spatial separation significantly attributable to individual wealth (Baum, Haynes and van Gellecum 1557; Beer and Forster 9). Smets and Salman recognise this as a global phenomenon and propose a causal link to globalisation “deepening… the clefts between urban populations and the urban districts they inhabit” (1307). They go on to note that these rifts are “often connected to social cleavages” (Smets and Salman

Argument: Cities are controlled by a coalition of elite land-based interests whose aim is to increase the profit potential of their land and wealth. Well-to-due individuals have

Today’s biggest cities are a paradox; on one hand, they are hotspots of tolerance amid the ever regressive mindsets of rural towns. They are products of millions being forced to live together in harmony, generating immense innovation and piquing their own curiosities. Yet as they churn out the rich and famous, the bright allure of urban places belies an ugly truth. Socially isolated strangers huddle together on a crowded subway platform. No one talks.

Globalization requires highly specialized services, telecommunications, infrastructure, and industrial services. Economic globalization has mostly been represented in terms of the duality between national and global, where the global gains power and advantages at the expense of the national. For example, Saskia Sassen, author of Whose City Is It?, states many disadvantages of “global” cities for women, immigrants, and people of color, “whose political sense of self and identities are not necessarily embedded in the nation” (206).

The process of people moving into cities, which is called urbanisation, was happening around the world in past decades. It causes cities to have more labourers and resources than before. This makes a big contribution to the social development of cities. Thanks to these social developments, public services are becoming better in these areas. Citizens can enjoy a better life by access these public services such as better medical care, more education resources and well-built transport. It means an equitable society can be created. An equitable society means citizens can have more opportunities to access social resources and to live a better life. This essay will argue that

The social theories that I find particularly insightful in the study of cities are the Durkheim and Weber classical theories. Durkheim’s theory argues that societies are held together by social cement known as collective consciousness, which forms a moral basis of team spirit. In contrast, the emergent society is characterized by change, complexity and demands division of labor among individuals in the society. According to Durkheim, complex societies gave rise to social interactions or moral density among individuals. Durkheim believed that division of labor arises from increasing moral density in the society. Consequently, cities arise from the need of people to remain in close contact with each other and to uphold collective consciousness (Bounds 7).

Wirth was more interested in urbanism as a way of life rather than trying to understand the shapes of cities. He argued that urbanism cannot be simply understood by measuring population of cities. Rather, it must be understood as a form of social existence. Wirth states that cities are the “initiating and controlling centre of economic, political and cultural life that has drawn the most remote communities of the world into its orbit and woven diverse areas, people and activities into a cosmos.” (Wirth, 1938, p.342). Although Wirth recognised that in the density of social life in cities led to formation of neighbourhoods that had distinct characteristics, he insisted that the more these city areas became affected by the wider patterns of city life, the less community characteristics would survive. (Giddens and Sutton, 2013, p.211). It is clear to see that Wirth believed that urbanism, alienated people from one another, and weakened close bonds and families. Although he still recognized the advantages of urbanism which created cities full of tolerance, freedom and

New forms of urbanism have characterized the emerging processes of urbanization and globalization in the region. These include mega-urban regions, growth triangles and world cities.