Define Urbanization. Discuss the causes of Urbanization
Define Urbanization. Discuss the causes of Urbanization
What are the main causes of Urbanization ?
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Concept and Definition of Urbanization :-
Urbanization is the process by which rural areas are transformed into cities. In general, a society in which 75% of the working men are engaged in occupations other than agriculture is called a urban society. Sociologist Biersted mentioned urbanization as a process in his book titled "Social Order".
Professor S.C. Dube says - The city or town influences the essential elements of the social structure. All the urban societies have their own unique Institutional and organizational features.
Professor Kingsley Davies said in his book "Human Sociology", the results or effects of urbanization go beyond the limits of the city and indirectly promote the process of urbanization in other regions.
Horton and Hunt said in their book "Sociology" about the definition of urbanization - "..... urbanization brings certain inescapable social consequences - population density, anonymity, impersonality, regimentation, segmentation of personality."
Lewis Wirth refers to urban civilizations as large, densely populated and socially heterogeneous groups of people .
Reasons for Urbanization:-
1. Trend of Urbanization :- In every society of the world, a natural tendency to turn new areas into cities can be observed. Today in the era of globalization this trend has become very fast. Basically, people are naturally in favor of urbanization due to lack of facilities in rural life, unemployment - etc.
2. Economic benefits and employment opportunities :- Employment opportunities are relatively less in rural agrarian society. But in urban areas, people can participate in the work of their choice by their ability, education etc. Government and private job opportunities are more in urban areas. Urban infrastructure is also helpful in taking up new ventures.
3. Higher education opportunities :- Students are forced to move to the city due to lack of infrastructure once they cross the school boundary in rural life. Higher education facilities are available in urban areas due to the large number of higher education institutions such as colleges, universities etc. in the city. Also, various types of education - such as - technical education, engineering, medical education - etc. are available only in urban areas.
4. Lack of occupational mobility in rural areas :- Division of labor in rural society is closed in nature. So to stay off the road to professional mobility, people turn to urban life. Due to the diversity of the division of labor in urban areas, people can easily fulfill their occupational goals there.
5. Government Policy :- Government Developmental Expenditure - Most of the allocation is spent on city development projects. Government is always alert for development in many areas like employment, communication, development of urban life etc. When government policies are largely used for urban development, rural life is neglected and people are forced to migrate to cities.
6. Reckless behavior of the government :- Many times the remiss behavior of the government becomes the main reason for the decline of rural life and the growth of urban areas. For example, the government controls the price of food grains. As a result, the people of the city get cheap food products, but the rural farming community faces huge losses. On the other hand, the government does not show much interest in controlling the prices of seeds, fertilizers etc. required for agriculture. Such government policy undermines the interests of rural areas but on the other hand enriches urban life.
7. Administrative Center :- The administrative centers of a nation and the various territories of that state naturally become cities. It also became a city as it was the administrative center of various districts of the state. Due to the large amount of human interaction, participation, fulfillment of expectations - etc. in every administrative center, the administrative centers become the focal points for fulfillment of people's interests and objectives.
8. Center of political activity:- Political activities are mostly organized in urban areas. For example, cities like Calcutta, Dhaka, Bombay, Amritsar, etc. were the heart of India's nationalist movement. Even in modern times, various political movements, movements for democratic demands, etc. revolve around urban areas. As a result, the main centers of political activity became cities.
9. Comforts of urban life :- The presence of worldly comforts in urban areas is not seen in rural areas. Luxury, entertainment, modern consumer goods, strong attraction of western culture, diverse division of labor - etc. people prefer urban life and due to this reason rural areas are also gradually becoming urban.
10. Various problems in rural society :- Various problems in rural society are also helping the development of urbanization. There are various problems in rural public life. For example - strict caste system, closed division of labor, various superstitions, curse of caste, exploitation of upper classes, neglected rural development and education - etc. are against the normal democratic life of people. People therefore easily try to urbanize or become urbanized in this problematic environment.
Finally, the causes of urbanization may vary across countries and over time. However, the above reasons are considered as common reasons for the urbanization that has occurred in all countries of the world, in all periods. Apart from the above factors, some other factors are responsible for urbanization. Main and famous centers – historical, cultural, religious, educational – easily become cities. Also globalization and western influence in various developing countries of the world are also responsible for urbanization.
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