Synopses & Reviews
Organized around an integrated paradigmthe sociospatial perspectivethis breakthrough text considers the role played by social factors such as race, class, gender, lifestyle, economics, culture, and politics on the development of metropolitan areas. By moving beyond the traditional city/suburb dichotomy, the authors unique focus on the continuously changing nature of metropolitan regions makes the material more relevant to students personal experiences, and the cohesive conceptual framework engages students critical thinking skills. Fully revised throughout, this edition features expanded discussions of international regions, key concepts, and the effect of the economic crisis on housing markets, public policy, and urban development. Concise and accessible, this book offers students a brief, intelligible history of urban life from its origins to the industrial period, as well as a clear, sophisticated summary of urban social theory.
Review
“This edition of Gottdiener's and Hutchison's
The New Urban Sociology reviews recent developments in urban and metropolitan development, and examines changes in the social, political and cultural dimensions of cities through a sociospatial lens. It will be of interest to sociologists but also to students in urban studies, public health, social welfare and public policy.”
— Nicholas Freudenberg, Distinguished Professor of Urban Public Health, Hunter College/City University of New York “The New Urban Sociology offers a very well balanced overview of historical and contemporary research in the entire field and appropriately situates the multinucleated metropolitan region and its multifaceted culture in the increasingly globalized urban world.”
— Min Zhou, Professor of Sociology and Founding Chair of the Department of Asian American Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles
Review
The best urban sociology textbook available! This updated version of Gottdiener and Hutchisons respected text stands out for its critical sociospatial approach accenting key development actors, attention to urban theming and semiotics, savvy discussions of racial/gender issues, and studied attention to global contexts of U.S. and overseas urban development.”
—Joe Feagin, Texas A&M University
The New Urban Sociology blends theory and examples to give readers an accessible and engaging work suitable for undergraduates, urban scholars, and general readers. Gottdiener and Hutchison provide an innovative and brilliantly structured text to shed fresh light on the dominant trends and global processes shaping cities and urban life.”
—Kevin Fox Gotham, Tulane University
Bringing our understanding of global urban trends and recent urban policies bang up to date, The New Urban Sociology embraces a wide range of social, cultural, economic and political themes and issues. Clearly organized and smartly written, the volume will be of immense value to students of urban studies, urban history, and sociology and anyone interested in the key metropolitan issues of our time.”
—Mark Clapson, University Of Westminster
Hutchison and Gottdiener make this book more and more user friendly in the fourth edition…This book deserves to be read not only by upper-level undergraduate and graduate students, but also by scholars who are looking for a brief (but effective) overview on the city.”
—Gabriele Manella, University Of Bologna
Synopsis
Now revised and updated, this groundbreaking text utilizes an integrated sociospatial paradigm to consider the role of race, class, gender, lifestyle, economics, culture, and politics on the development of metropolitan areas.
About the Author
Mark Gottdiener is professor of sociology at SUNY-Buffalo and the recipient of the 2011 Robert and Helen Lynd Lifetime Achievement Award. He is the author of numerous books, including
The Theming of America; Las Vegas: The Social Production of an All-American City; New Forms of Consumption: Consumer, Culture, and Commodification; Postmodern Semiotics; and
The Social Production of Urban Space.Ray Hutchison is professor of sociology and chair of urban and regional studies at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. He is series editor of Research in Urban Sociology and senior editor of the forthcoming three-volume Encyclopedia of Urban Studies.
Table of Contents
Preface to the Fourth Edition 1 The New Urban Sociology
Urban Regions
Defining the Metropolitan Region
Megacities Around the World
A New Approach to Urban Sociology
Global Capitalism and the Metropolis
Supply-Side Factors in Urban Development
The Importance of Culture in Metropolitan Life
The Sociospatial Approach
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
The Origins of Urban Life
Ancient Urbanization
Classical Cities
Urbanization After ad 1000
The Medieval Order and the Renaissance City
Capitalism and the Rise of the Industrial City
Key Concepts
Important Names
Discussion Questions
The Rise of Urban Sociology
Georg Simmel on the City
Louis Wirth and Urbanism as a Way of Life
The Chicago School of Urban Sociology
From Human Ecology to Urban Ecology
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Important Names
Discussion Questions
Contemporary Urban Sociology
Political Economy and the City: Classic Approaches
The Revival of Urban Political Economy: Henri Lefebvre
Class Conflict Theories: Gordon, Storper, and Walker
Capital Accumulation Theory
Approaches by Urban Sociologists: The Growth Machine vs. the Sociospatial Perspective
Real Estate and Government Intervention
Semiotics and Urban Culture
The Global Economy
Summary: The Sociospatial Perspective
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
5 Urbanization in the United States
The Stages of Urban Growth
The Colonial Period: 1630 to 1812
The Era of Industrial Expansion: 1812 to 1920
The Rise of the Metropolis: 1920 to 1960
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
6 Suburbanization, Globalization, and the Emergence of the Multicentered Region
Deindustrialization and Globalization: Processes That Have Changed Both Cities and Suburbs Since the 1960s
Globalization and Uneven Development
How Deindustrialization and Globalization Affected Suburbs
Beyond Suburbia: The Emergence of the Multinucleated Region
Recent Trends in Metropolitan Regions
The Shift to the Sun Belt
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
7 People and Lifestyles in the Metropolis: Urban and Suburban Culture
Class Differences and Spatial Location
Women, Gender Roles, and Space
The City as a Special Place: Nightlife, Urban Culture, and Regeneration of Downtowns
Urban Culture and City Revitalization
Ethnicity and Immigration
Conclusion: Ethnic and Cultural Diversity Across the Metropolis
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
8 Minority Settlement Patterns, Neighborhoods, and Communities in the Multicentered Metro region
Voluntary and Involuntary Movements of Minorities
Neighborhoods and Community
The Difference Between Neighborhood and Community
New Forms of Community
Social Networks as Communities Without Proximity
Summary
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
9 Metropolitan Problems: Racism, Poverty, Crime, Housing, and Fiscal Crisis
The Sociospatial Approach to Social Problems
Racism and Poverty
Increasing Income Inequality, Unemployment, and Poverty
The Housing Crisis and Societys Failure to Provide Adequate Affordable Housing
Homelessness
Crime
The Fiscal Crisis and Public Service Problems
Summary
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
10 Urbanization in the Developed Nations
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Japan
Summary
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
11 Globalization and Urbanization in the Developing World
Changing Perspectives on Urbanization
The Demographic Transition
Primate City Development Patterns
Shantytown Development
The Informal Economy and Coping Strategies
Urban Social Movements and Politics
Patterns of Urbanization
Summary
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
12 Metropolitan Planning and Environmental Issues
Sprawl
A Short History of Metropolitan Planning
The Sociology of Land-Use Planning
Utopian Schemes: Howard, Le Corbusier, and Wright
Planning Critics: Jacobs and Krier
Other Trends in Planning Today
Summary of Planning Issues
Environmental Issues
Key Concepts
Important Names
Discussion Questions
13 Metropolitan Social Policy
The Tragedy of the Commons
Uneven Development and Policy: Redistributive Programs
Urban and Metropolitan Policy
Privatism and Issues of Social Justice
Urban Policy: The Political Debate
Regional Governance
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
14 The Future of Urban Sociology
Understanding Our New Urban World
Urban Structure and Urban Culture
The Future of the City
The Future of the Urban Inquiry
Key Concepts
Important Names
Discussion Questions
Bibliography
Index
About the Authors