Scope and Subject matter of urban sociology

Scope and Subject matter of urban sociology

Urban sociology as a sub-discipline of sociology emerged out of the sociological inquiry about the distinctiveness of urban society, its differentiation with rural society and tendency of studying the society in urban area from different perspectives. Urban sociology emerged as established science of urban society when the human world witnessed the industrial revolution and subsequent transformation in society, economy, culture and polity of various nations.

The civilization constitutes of both rural and urban society but it gradually started to segregate rural and urban society from each other due to industrial revolution and technological revolution took place in Europe and then extended in various other countries of the world. Rural and Urban society is the creation of differentiation and distinction in human society, which has started since the time of time of industrialization and urbanization process in Europe and other parts of the world.

Industrialization and urbanization have brought changes in the social structure of urban areas or centers. To understand the changed social structure and system in urban areas or centers, urban sociology has become the most important science of society.

Scope of urban sociology

In order to understand the scope of urban sociology, we have to look the area or boundary of sociological inquiry or study of society in urban areas particularly located distinctly from the rural areas. Its scope starts at the research on the nature of society in urban areas or centers that is urban way of life. The scope of urban sociology covers the research inquiry regarding social structure and social system and how urban areas exhibit distinct society based on social structure and social system different from rural society that is emergent or newly developed. It extends to the study of social institutions and their nature of practice determined in the urban social structure and system. Social institutions like family, marriage, kinship, economy, polity, religion, culture, values etc. are distinctly and differently perceived and practices in urban setting due to structural differentiation. Scope of urban sociology also includes the impact of urban society on rural areas and different forms rural-urban interaction and even contradictions. 

Subject Matter of Urban Sociology

Urban sociology as we have mentioned is one of the sub-discipline of sociology deals with urban areas and urban society. It is the science of urban society studies the society in urban areas like city or town with the help of scientific theoretical approach or perspective. The methodology and theoretical formulation are the two important elements have made urban sociology as distinct and scientific discipline in sociology to study the particular form of society called urban.

Following are some important matter of study in urban sociology:

1.      Urbanism: Urban way of life has emerged because of constant and persistent encounter of people with certain social values, cultures, norms and institutions, which have moulded and developed only in urban areas. Social action and interaction in urban areas have manifested with certain features such as heterogeneity, secondary relationship, social order in diversity, achieved status and division of labor based on specialization etc.

2.      Urbanization: It refers geographical expansion of urban centers as well as development of urban mode of life. Urban sociology studies the urbanization as a process characteristically prevalent in developed industrial society and trend in developing and underdeveloped country. It deals with how urbanization has been changing the social institutions, individual action and life of the people (social, economic and political).

3.      Urban ecology: It refers the scientific study of relationship between individual and urban social environment. Urban sociology particularly studies the urban social environment and the individual’s adaptability in it. 

4.      Urban social institutions: Social institutions such as family, marriage, kinship, economy, polity, religion and others are universal. Urban sociology deals with these social institutions to get insight into the nature of their practice in urban society and changing trend in urban society.

5.      Urban development: It refers economic, social and cultural development of the urban areas and people. Urban sociology studies development process, resistance, issues of development or adequate development requirement of urban areas. It also studies how urban policy can be best suited for particular urban centers and strategy for achieving development goal.

6.      Urban social problems: It includes the problem of pollution, housing that is slum, unemployment, gap in living standard, crime and deviance etc. Urban sociology not just describes these problems but tries to analyze the societal context of all the problems. It also studies the societal causes and consequences of the social problems prevalent in urban centers.

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Author of the essay is M Hasan Laskar, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Sociology, University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya. He is author and founder of You Tube channel “Sociology for Life”. He is also the editor of this Blog “Sociological Study”.