Key Variables in Urbanization Theories
Urbanization Rates: Measure the pace of population concentration in urban areas.
Urban Hierarchy: Describes the different levels of urban centers, from small towns to global cities.
Functional Specialization: Refers to the concentration of specific economic activities in particular urban areas.
Social and Cultural Characteristics: Includes factors such as population density, diversity, and governance structures.
Technological Advancements: The development of transportation, infrastructure, and communication systems has accelerated urbanization.
Environmental Factors: Physical geography, resource availability, and pollution levels influence urban settlement patterns.
Political and Economic Policies: Government policies on land use, zoning, and economic development impact urbanization.
Urbanization Theories
Concentric Zone Theory (Burgess): Divides the urban area into concentric rings with distinct social and economic characteristics.
Sector Model (Hoyt): Similar to the Concentric Zone Theory, but suggests that different functions (e.g., industry, commerce, residence) form sectors within the city.
Multiple Nuclei Model (Harris & Ullman): Proposes that the urban area is shaped by multiple centers, each with its own specialized function.
Peripheral Model (Hoover): Argues that urbanization is characterized by a sprawling fringe area of low-density residential development.
World Systems Theory (Wallerstein): Views urbanization as a byproduct of the global capitalist system, with cities playing a role in resource extraction and consumption.
References:
- Abu-Lughod, J. L. (1999). New York, Chicago, Los Angeles: America's global cities. University of Minnesota Press.
- Berry, B. J. L. (1979). The counterurbanization process: Urban America since 1970. Ballinger.
- Burgess, E. W. (1925). The growth of the city: An introduction to a research project. Publications of the American Sociological Society, 18(2), 85-97.
- Harris, C. D., & Ullman, E. L. (1945). The nature of cities. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 242(1), 7-17.
- Hoover, E. M. (1948). The location of economic activity. McGraw-Hill.
- Hoyt, H. (1939). The structure and growth of residential neighborhoods in American cities. Federal Housing Administration.
- Wallerstein, I. (1974). The modern world-system: Capitalist agriculture and the origins of the European world-economy in the sixteenth century. Academic Press.