Urbanization and Community

Term Paper # 101743

Computer and Technology > Networks
Computer and Technology > Technology
Sociology > Theory

An analysis of the history of urbanization and the changing meaning of community within today's technological world.

1,524 words () | 7 sources | MLA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper explores the historical meaning of community in reference to social network theory. It discusses this theory as the determinant of a new type of community in the urban technological world. The paper analyzes the history of population shifts and urbanization. It also looks at Aristotle's views of what makes up a community and the social reality of a new community developing in the information age of technology.

From the Paper:

"Castells "network society" accurately reflects the social reality of a new community developing in the information age of technology. Simple facts such as those in the UCLA Internet Report (2000) (Hampton 110,) show that the use of technology does not have to mean an inversion of human interactions to a gesellshaft society. Early urbanization spawned the devastatingly anti-social realities of disease, poverty, and squalor as much as it provided the new opportunities it offered. Urbanization in the network society" can actually, not just virtually, realize as Aristotle desired, "the goodness of city" (Stalley 104) perhaps better than society has ever known."

Sample of Sources Used:

Hampton, Keith N. "Social Ties and Community in Urban Places" Pp. 95-117 and
Hannigan, John. "The New Urban Political Economy" Pp. 246-263 in Hampton, Keith N. Urban Canada: Sociological Perspectives. Oxford. Oxford University Press. 2004. Pp. 95-117.
Harris, Jose. Community and Civil Society. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge. 2001.
Hayles, Katherine N., "The Seductions of Cyberspace" in Conley, V. Rethinking Technologies. Minneapolis. University of Minnesota Press. 1993.
Hiller, Harry H. Urban Canada: Sociological Perspectives Oxford University Press. Oxford. 2004.