Wallerstein spoke about the term, core/periphery, and semi-periphery. He defined them as, "Core/Periphery- Defines the difference between developed countries and developing countries, characterized e.g. by power or wealth. The core stands refers to developed countries, and the periphery is a synonym for the dependent developing countries. The main reason for the position of the developed countries is economic power.
Semi-periphery- Defines states that are located between core and periphery, they benefit from the periphery and have to contribute to the centre. Mostly these states are authoritarian, allowing the core to put oppressive measures on them" (Wikipedia).
Its a concept that seems difficult to understand, but it is not if one looks into its definition. The relation between core and the periphery is desribed as dependent and the exploitation between rich and poor. Semi-periphery which some look at at being problematic say its a "vague allusion to a middle ground between core and periphery. To understand Wallerstein's ideas one would need to analyze his ideas more than just from outside the source. "Wallerstein does not conceive of these differences as mere residues or irregularities that can and will be overcome as the system as a whole evolves. Much more, a lasting division of the world in core, semi-periphery and periphery is an inherent feature of the world-system" (Modern World System 1).
These ideas by Wallerstein can still be observed today in sociology. Wallerstein was born in 1930 and he has in fact still has been giving speeches about his ideas and theories. The Modern World System is probably the most popular thing from Wallerstein, but his work is still discussed today.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Creative Destruction
In order toexpand capital markets, you need to blow these places up. In sociology, this is known as creative destruction. For example, some cities in Japan can be used as an example. It allowed a moderniation to the city because they had to start over. There factories got competitive. By having this, it creates the factories to open up again for the possibility for value, gain, profit. This happened in New York City in the 1980's. It went in three steps of gentrification: 1.) uses of space- (Artists)
2.) perspective
3.) nature of space- (Reinvestment)
In an article written by Deirdre McCloskey, the author speaks about creative destruction vs. the new industrial state. Another article spoke of Schumpeter's Creative Destruction, and asked an interesting question. "Thoughtful scholars from Adam Smith to Jared Diamond, have asked the same life-and-death question: why do some societies succeed, and others fail, in producing the goods that make life long, healthy and prosperous? Smith's answer was basically that when societies adopt the rules of market capitalism, their economies grow, and when they do not adopt the rules of market capitalism, their economies do not. Since Smith, other economists have developed more formal models of economic growth. The classic "Solow growth model" emphasized the investment of capital" (Diamond 1).
"The oxymoron "creative destruction" suggests the tensions that are at the heart of urban life: between stability and change, between particular places and undifferentiated spaces, between market forces and planning controls, and between the "natural" and "unnatural" in city growth. Page investigates these cultural counterweights through case studies of Manhattan's development, with depictions ranging from private real estate development along Fifth Avenue to Jacob Riis's slum clearance efforts on the Lower East Side, from the elimination of street trees to the efforts to save City Hall from demolition" (Page 1).
This creative destruction is an interesting concept in sociology, and is a great way to express some of the history of certain cities.
2.) perspective
3.) nature of space- (Reinvestment)
In an article written by Deirdre McCloskey, the author speaks about creative destruction vs. the new industrial state. Another article spoke of Schumpeter's Creative Destruction, and asked an interesting question. "Thoughtful scholars from Adam Smith to Jared Diamond, have asked the same life-and-death question: why do some societies succeed, and others fail, in producing the goods that make life long, healthy and prosperous? Smith's answer was basically that when societies adopt the rules of market capitalism, their economies grow, and when they do not adopt the rules of market capitalism, their economies do not. Since Smith, other economists have developed more formal models of economic growth. The classic "Solow growth model" emphasized the investment of capital" (Diamond 1).
"The oxymoron "creative destruction" suggests the tensions that are at the heart of urban life: between stability and change, between particular places and undifferentiated spaces, between market forces and planning controls, and between the "natural" and "unnatural" in city growth. Page investigates these cultural counterweights through case studies of Manhattan's development, with depictions ranging from private real estate development along Fifth Avenue to Jacob Riis's slum clearance efforts on the Lower East Side, from the elimination of street trees to the efforts to save City Hall from demolition" (Page 1).
This creative destruction is an interesting concept in sociology, and is a great way to express some of the history of certain cities.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Sasser, Globalization, Transnationalization
Globalization has to do with the erosion of sovereignty(nation state)>Business, finance, corporation.
Sasser who studied late mdern capitalism said, "We have this new form of legality." It deregulates markets, it defers global capital, and its capital priviledges and rights. Along with this, as we view Obama's new stimuluss plans, we are footing bill for a global financial system that we will not be a part of.
Transationalization states, "Borders no longer matter." There is multiculturalism and immigration that is taking place every day. With financial services there is centrality-infrastructure, human capital/overvalulization, undervaluization.
"Transnationalization is not a slogan. Transnationalization is a process, and it is aproject. Inside and outside Europe, migrants move from one country to another one,looking for a better future, refusing subordination and exploitation. Crossing theborders, migrants are transnationalizing the world. This process is already takingplace, that is why the transnationalization of migrants' struggles, against theborder regime, must become a project too" (Frassanito 1). Of course this type of activity is already taking place as we see it in everyday society.
Our problem is that we overvalue financial system and undervalue the people/physical space needed to run the city. Some believe the global financial system is about to collapse. In conclusion, all of these things are important to consider when figuring out certain problems that we have to deal with. This type of consideration and activity should be viewed first because of the global financial system's importance.
Sasser who studied late mdern capitalism said, "We have this new form of legality." It deregulates markets, it defers global capital, and its capital priviledges and rights. Along with this, as we view Obama's new stimuluss plans, we are footing bill for a global financial system that we will not be a part of.
Transationalization states, "Borders no longer matter." There is multiculturalism and immigration that is taking place every day. With financial services there is centrality-infrastructure, human capital/overvalulization, undervaluization.
"Transnationalization is not a slogan. Transnationalization is a process, and it is aproject. Inside and outside Europe, migrants move from one country to another one,looking for a better future, refusing subordination and exploitation. Crossing theborders, migrants are transnationalizing the world. This process is already takingplace, that is why the transnationalization of migrants' struggles, against theborder regime, must become a project too" (Frassanito 1). Of course this type of activity is already taking place as we see it in everyday society.
Our problem is that we overvalue financial system and undervalue the people/physical space needed to run the city. Some believe the global financial system is about to collapse. In conclusion, all of these things are important to consider when figuring out certain problems that we have to deal with. This type of consideration and activity should be viewed first because of the global financial system's importance.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Slums
In simple terms a slum is known as a poor standard of living. In slums there seems to be a certain environment. This environment has certain characteristics which seem to exist in all slums. The thing about slums is they are, insecure tenure, pollution takes place in them, they lack a solid infrastructure, there is often too much overcrowding, and finally poor housing. Many of you who have seen "Slumdog Millionaire" probably can relate the living conditions from that movie to those that I discussed.
A man by the name of Mike Davis wrote a book titled, "Planet of the Slums" in which he discusses just as the title states, slums. He includes details about them and explains how many people are in slums today. According to the United Nations, more than one billion people now live in the slums of the cities of the South. The reader learns that urbanization has become disconnected for industrialization therefore contributing to this term, we know as slums. Davis ends his book by relating to a present conflict that we are trying to figure out today in the United States. Davis states, “What is clear is that the contemporary mega-slum poses unique problems of imperial order and social control that conventional geopolitics has barely begun to register. If the aim of the “war on terrorism” is to pursue the erstwhile enemy into his sociological and cultural labyrinth, then the poor peripheries of developing cities will be the permanent battlefields of the twenty-first century" (Davis).
Along with, "Planet of the Slums," definitions such as squatting can be heard when talked about in a slum like society. Squatting is when one shows up to a place that may be abandoned and begin to live there until they are evicted or have other problems. In New York, if one is found squatting in a house after ten years then they cannot lose the house. The law states that if you're there more then ten years, then it is your property. In the 40's, 50's, and 60's squatting had political decolonization, but in the 80's, squatting becomes economic. Finally, squatting is formed on the periphory of cities.
It was interesting to read another person's blog on slums. This area that I am talking about is known as Panama City and Casco Viejo. The blog includes a little history and detail behind what is now known as a tourist attraction to some.
Overall, slums will continue to exist throughout the world. The interesting part behind them is the nature of the slums, and the very rough conditions one can have to suffer and live in that some of us take for granted such as using the bathroom. In slums, a task as easy as getting rid of waste by flushing the toilet, may be very tough in a slum. This is because in a slum, one does not have a toilet to flush and it may be dumped right next to their living space.
A man by the name of Mike Davis wrote a book titled, "Planet of the Slums" in which he discusses just as the title states, slums. He includes details about them and explains how many people are in slums today. According to the United Nations, more than one billion people now live in the slums of the cities of the South. The reader learns that urbanization has become disconnected for industrialization therefore contributing to this term, we know as slums. Davis ends his book by relating to a present conflict that we are trying to figure out today in the United States. Davis states, “What is clear is that the contemporary mega-slum poses unique problems of imperial order and social control that conventional geopolitics has barely begun to register. If the aim of the “war on terrorism” is to pursue the erstwhile enemy into his sociological and cultural labyrinth, then the poor peripheries of developing cities will be the permanent battlefields of the twenty-first century" (Davis).
Along with, "Planet of the Slums," definitions such as squatting can be heard when talked about in a slum like society. Squatting is when one shows up to a place that may be abandoned and begin to live there until they are evicted or have other problems. In New York, if one is found squatting in a house after ten years then they cannot lose the house. The law states that if you're there more then ten years, then it is your property. In the 40's, 50's, and 60's squatting had political decolonization, but in the 80's, squatting becomes economic. Finally, squatting is formed on the periphory of cities.
It was interesting to read another person's blog on slums. This area that I am talking about is known as Panama City and Casco Viejo. The blog includes a little history and detail behind what is now known as a tourist attraction to some.
Overall, slums will continue to exist throughout the world. The interesting part behind them is the nature of the slums, and the very rough conditions one can have to suffer and live in that some of us take for granted such as using the bathroom. In slums, a task as easy as getting rid of waste by flushing the toilet, may be very tough in a slum. This is because in a slum, one does not have a toilet to flush and it may be dumped right next to their living space.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Ghettos and Wirth
After learning about Wirth and his writing on ghetto's, it really was different from what I thought a ghetto actually was. As individuals in the ghetto accumulate capital, that these individuals will eventually try to leave the ghetto. The model goes as follows: 1.) The subject starts in the ghetto which eventually wants to get out due to economic lifts which then moves to step 2. 2.) Next, the subject moves out of the ghetto and begins to assimilate and the people begin to get integrated. Finally, after this the subject moves out from the second step then he/she finds their way to the suburb in all different directions. This is an enclave according to Wirth. This generational model moves to assimilation then to a melting pot which is known as the city and eventually to a suburb.
There are a few differences between ghettos and enclaves.
Ghettos Enclaves
1.) Dually segregated 1.) Doubly diluted
2.) Negative 2.) Positive
3.) Enforced 3.) Voluntary
4.) Expand 4.) Residual
5.) Real 5.) Symbolic
6.) Threat 6.) Touristic
Wirth believes that the ghettos are an institution, "which represents a prolonged case of isolation." Wirth's ideas seem to go hand in hand with one another for the reasons that one will end up in a ghetto and the reasons why it occurs.
We often hear the stories of ghetto's through WWII with the Jews all together.
"Jews were to be found in every part of the city, but predominantly in the Northern part, with many apartment houses and certain streets inhabited exclusively by Jews. In 1935 the city limits covered an area of 54 square miles with a population of 1.3 million people. On the eve of World War Two the Jewish population in Warsaw numbered 337,000 about 29% of the total population of the city, this figure rose to 445,000 by March 1941" (http://www.thoughts.com/Holocaustresearchproject/blog/the-warsaw-ghetto-230704/).
In conclusion, ghettos still exist outside of just WWII and I believe it is because of the isolation of one and also their economic status.
There are a few differences between ghettos and enclaves.
Ghettos Enclaves
1.) Dually segregated 1.) Doubly diluted
2.) Negative 2.) Positive
3.) Enforced 3.) Voluntary
4.) Expand 4.) Residual
5.) Real 5.) Symbolic
6.) Threat 6.) Touristic
Wirth believes that the ghettos are an institution, "which represents a prolonged case of isolation." Wirth's ideas seem to go hand in hand with one another for the reasons that one will end up in a ghetto and the reasons why it occurs.
We often hear the stories of ghetto's through WWII with the Jews all together.
"Jews were to be found in every part of the city, but predominantly in the Northern part, with many apartment houses and certain streets inhabited exclusively by Jews. In 1935 the city limits covered an area of 54 square miles with a population of 1.3 million people. On the eve of World War Two the Jewish population in Warsaw numbered 337,000 about 29% of the total population of the city, this figure rose to 445,000 by March 1941" (http://www.thoughts.com/Holocaustresearchproject/blog/the-warsaw-ghetto-230704/).
In conclusion, ghettos still exist outside of just WWII and I believe it is because of the isolation of one and also their economic status.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Modernism and Post Modernism
As Americans, most of our grandparents and their parents were around during the modernism period. It wasn't until about the 1970's that it was believed cracked the modernism period and moved to post modernism. In the modernism period there was order and there was alot expected of the people during this time. There was almost a strict schedule and lifestyle that seemed to be followed by everyone and anything that existed behind closed doors was considered private. In the 60's is where the very first folks started rebelling against order forming many memorable times such as the hippie era where experimentation took place with drugs, music such as, rock and roll and the other rebel activity that took place.
It was very interesting to also read about the post-metropolis which consisted of six steps according to a sociologist named Soja. These six steps were:
1.) Flexcity.
2.) Cosmopolis where things like diverse population exists and globalization and glocalization.
3.) Exopolis where things like edgecity, exurbs-50 miles outside of city, and multipolar city takes place.
4.) Metropolarities.
5.) Corceral Archipelagos- how places have changed where you are being atched from the outsidea and inside, through these jail type communities.
6.) Simcity- times square is a great example.
Today in places we are seeing high poverty take place in tiny cities or large towns depending on what your qualifications are in places like Dover or Rockaway, New Jersey compared to where we used to see a high amount of poverty taking place in the inner city areas. Its surprising to find out that just because we may not see the poverty in our town, it can be happening in the town next to us.
I pulled a blog up that had some data from a few years ago showing some of the highest crime rates in New Jersey and even after a few years it is amazing to see how much has changed.
http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-jersey/11488-worst-towns-nj-7.html
It was very interesting to also read about the post-metropolis which consisted of six steps according to a sociologist named Soja. These six steps were:
1.) Flexcity.
2.) Cosmopolis where things like diverse population exists and globalization and glocalization.
3.) Exopolis where things like edgecity, exurbs-50 miles outside of city, and multipolar city takes place.
4.) Metropolarities.
5.) Corceral Archipelagos- how places have changed where you are being atched from the outsidea and inside, through these jail type communities.
6.) Simcity- times square is a great example.
Today in places we are seeing high poverty take place in tiny cities or large towns depending on what your qualifications are in places like Dover or Rockaway, New Jersey compared to where we used to see a high amount of poverty taking place in the inner city areas. Its surprising to find out that just because we may not see the poverty in our town, it can be happening in the town next to us.
I pulled a blog up that had some data from a few years ago showing some of the highest crime rates in New Jersey and even after a few years it is amazing to see how much has changed.
http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-jersey/11488-worst-towns-nj-7.html
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Urban Sociology
After learning in class about Mike Davis and his thoery of the Ecology of Fear, I really liked his perspective because it was more modern and it was a closer time to when I was born. I was born in 1988 and Davis' thoery is from that time period. It stated that we needed to retain the danger and fear, and some things that were considered dangerous during this time were the minorities, immigrants, lower class, and the homeless.
Mike Davis goes to Los Angeles and the Fortress City. During this time period things were getting changed where flat benches were then being changed to benches that were like tube style. The reason these benches were being changed was because they wanted to get rid of the most feared people in this area, the homeless. So, by changing the benches so that they were not flat, it would remove the homeless from laying on them. Tube benches are not comfortable and are very uncomfortable to stay on for a long period of time.
Class warfare 1960's, there was on level architecture, spacial confinement, and danger according to Davis. This was not the way that cities should have been according to Davis. He saw the 1960's cities being problems because of the architecture, spacial confinement, and the danger that occured because of that. These problems were later observed by Davis, and he identified the problems.
Mike Davis wrote many different articles and had alot of different ideas on cities. It was very appealing to read some of the other articles that he wrote and opinions on those topics through blogs.
http://www.planetizen.com/node/30414
Mike Davis goes to Los Angeles and the Fortress City. During this time period things were getting changed where flat benches were then being changed to benches that were like tube style. The reason these benches were being changed was because they wanted to get rid of the most feared people in this area, the homeless. So, by changing the benches so that they were not flat, it would remove the homeless from laying on them. Tube benches are not comfortable and are very uncomfortable to stay on for a long period of time.
Class warfare 1960's, there was on level architecture, spacial confinement, and danger according to Davis. This was not the way that cities should have been according to Davis. He saw the 1960's cities being problems because of the architecture, spacial confinement, and the danger that occured because of that. These problems were later observed by Davis, and he identified the problems.
Mike Davis wrote many different articles and had alot of different ideas on cities. It was very appealing to read some of the other articles that he wrote and opinions on those topics through blogs.
http://www.planetizen.com/node/30414
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)