SOCI 4305: Urban Sociology Assignment

Differences between Urbanization and Urbanism

Urbanization refers to the growth of cities caused by the shift of population from small

communities and rural areas to larger ones and the shift from an agriculturally characterized

economy to an industrial economy. A nation’s urbanization is determined by its cultural,

economic, political, and demographic structure. According to Palen (2018), traditions and

customs in urban areas are more formalized with a more independent lifestyle compared to rural

areas, where upholding more intimate relations and customs are primary. Using the economic

aspect, urban areas are distinguished by their industrial activities and less engagement in

agricultural work, and politically, urban areas tend to have more responsive administrative

structures. However, the using demographic attributes to describe urbanization majorly depends

on how different nations define cities. Even though it’s the most commonly used aspect to

characterize the urbanization of cities, it changes from one country to the other.

On the other hand, urbanism refers to an area’s way of life, reflected by its social and

psychological aspects. Urbanism looks into members of a society’s interdependence and their

impersonality in social relations. Palen (2018) provides instances of murder in cities that describe

urban areas’ way of life (urbanism) as cold and uncaring. Therefore, urbanism can be more

characterized by elements such as social life diversity, individualism, materialism, and cultural

changes. The urbanism of cities is manifested in an individual’s daily livelihood.

The Changes in Urban Growth Patterns in the last two centuries

Generally, urbanization growth has increased enormously in the last two centuries with

global growth patterns. In the discussion of the urbanization process, Palen (2018) highlights that

two centuries ago, the world’s population was 97% rural, while Vance Kite, in his urbanization