urbanism as a way of life

urbanism as a way of life

the prevailing feature of modern society, (in the view of L. Wirth, 1938). Wirth regarded this feature as more salient than industrialism or capitalism, since the development of large cities and towns had created a break with 'society's natural situation’. The process of URBANIZATION had rendered ties of kinship less important and replaced them with relationships of an instrumental, transitory and superficial character. Urban settlements are characterized by size, density and heterogeneity, which in combination provide the basis for a complex division of labour and fundamental changes in the nature of social relationships. see also URBAN SOCIOLOGY.