Cities Development - Essay Example

? SOCIETY POLITICS AND CITIES Submitted By Introduction 3 Globalization and Societies 3 Governing Cities: Civic Spaces, Civic Society and Urban Politics 4 Global Cities 5 Transformations in Consumer Settings 5 Landscape of Consumption 6 Zukin’s Theory of Landscape of Consumption 7 From the Landscape of Consumption to Production 8 Cities and Consumption 8 Case Study (McDonalization) 9 Conclusion 9 Bibliography 11 Introduction In this paper we will analyze different aspects of society politics and cities. In order to explain this we will discuss effects of globalization on civic spaces, social, economic, political and cultural values. How it has changed and influenced our pattern of consumption and production? Our major area of interest will remain to discuss the landscape of consumption, how it has changed over the period? What were the determining factors? We will try to analyze how it reflects the society. We will discuss different theories to develop a full understanding of it. To prove our point we will also discuss a case study so that the practical aspects of the theory of landscape of consumption can be understood. In the end we will try to answer the question proposed whether the cities have the potential to move from the landscape of consumption to the landscape of production. Globalization and Societies With globalization on the rise there is an ever increasing trend of urbanization. In America today about 80.3 % of the total population lives in metropolitan cities. 1(David McKay, 2009) This trend is not restricted to America only but this is the general trend all over the world Another important trend to note in the advanced industrialized countries is the increase in the population of rural areas and majority of them are non-farmers. They are people who prefer to live away from the crowded cities and suburbs. They go to rural areas in search of a new life style. Urban areas are still growing although the pattern is not uniform. The important and interesting fact about American urbanization is that it has not resulted in few dominant cities unlike Britain, France, Russia and Mexico. This rapid urbanization has its implications on economic, Political and social changes. Governing Cities: Civic Spaces, Civic Society and Urban Politics For the rise of the civil society some economic, political and social promises should be realized. 2(Mike Douglass, Kong-Chong ho, 2008). Civic spaces should be available for daily practices and other collaborative engagements of the society. Civil society must actively participate in governance and making it a livable civic society. The concept of civic spaces should be understood and analyzed in the context of urban politics and metropolitan governance. The civil spaces are not empty spaces. Civic spaces are basically an extension of the civil society. It is viewed as a stage for our public life if working properly. It is the place where celebrations are held and where the social, political and economic exchanges take place. The benefit of transforming a civic society into a great public place goes a long way. It enhances civic realm not only visually but it ensures healthy growth, provides a forum for interaction and gives foundation for enhancing the livability of the community. Without great public places great cities are not possible. There are strong linkages between civic society and the forces that shape urban politics and governance. Civil society is a very elusive phenomenon which depends on a number of internal and external forces and a wide array of inputs from different segments of the society with rising and diminishing importance in different parts of the city. Global Cities Global cities are responsible for structural conditions of urban change. There exits strong relationship between emerging social disparities in global cities and their impact on politics. These income inequalities, political injustices and power differentials have led to social movements in global cities. The most recent lived economic crises along with the bundle of other social and cultural injustices have resulted in the rise of the civil society. 3(Neil Brenner, Roger Keil, 2006) This rise of civil society is prevalent in all the global cities throughout the world. The role of civil society based organizations has increased manifolds especially in the context of recent downsizing and retreat of government from service delivery. Civil society based organizations are acting as important economic and social stabilizers in the neoliberalized political economy. Transformations in Consumer Settings Consumer settings have played an integral part in the geography of our existence for centuries. 1980’s and 1990’s saw the emergence of cathedrals of consumption.4 (S.Ratneshwar, David Glen Mick, 2005). The advent of capitalism and increased globalization has intensified consumerism. This recent phenomena is known as landscape of consumption. It is term used in sociology by Sharon Zukin which means “locales which encompass two or more cathedrals of consumption that allow, encourage and even compel people to consume.” The cathedrals of consumption can be best captured by suburban malls, cruise lines and themed restaurants. The Las Vegas strip and other landscapes of consumption have served as model through which other social geographies devoted to consumption can be developed. Landscape of Consumption The scale of landscape of consumption may vary greatly. In the broader perspective it may include a town square, a specific building, allocated areas such as shopping malls and theme parks even it can be as wide as a whole town and city e.g. Dubai. Even a home can be considered a landscape of consumption on a minute geographical level. A home contains many tools of consumption such as television shopping channels, online consumption sites and catalogues. Landscapes of consumption are very important because they have altered and modified the way of consumption in recent times. This landscape of consumption like cathedrals of consumption not only encourage consumption but in many cases even compels it. In our modern world Europe, USA, New York, London and many other cosmopolitan cities can be termed as landscapes of consumption. Each one of them has geographical areas that are a source of innumerable consumption. 5(George Ritzer, 2010) In Zukin’s work the concept of landscape is quite vague that is why it is hard to distinguish between landscapes of consumption and related concepts landscapes of power and landscape of production. In some cases actually landscapes of consumption overlap with landscapes of production. According to Zukin these landscapes of consumption do have some degree of production setting as well. He believed in the shift from the domination of production to consumption in these landscapes. Zukin’s Theory of Landscape of Consumption In the postmodern landscapes of Zukin power of place is very important. The theory revolves around the interaction of economic, social and political powers and their influence in configuring the form of the city. She has discussed the changes that occurred in our sociological environment which has taken us from the modernity of the production society to post modernity of consumerism or consumer society. She has observed that by the end of the 20th century the smoke emitting chimneys around nearby workers settlements and huge mansions of the industrialists which represented industrial power are replaced by new shopping malls; themed malls in new locations now represent the new landscape revealing a repositioning of power. Socio spatial identities and their link with urban construction and globalization has been very uniquely identified by Sharon Zukin. Now we will try to analyze from sociological viewpoint the new pattern of landscape and will discuss conceptualization of space from Zukin’s analysis. Following are four major points worth noting. 6(Lineu Castello, 2010) New hierarchy of power is represented by reconstruction of landscapes. In search of expression these places are redefined to accommodate new hierarchies. The interface of public and private places changes in the city. Shopping malls become public place. Another important change is that image is given profound importance. In terms of price the value of the material product takes the backseat while the value of image becomes of extreme importance. Places of fantasy do not just take prestige in images but they rather sell images. Celebrities of entertainment, sports and fashion are hired to increase sales and in help building the image. A new theory has developed that culture has economic value not only the lucrative official culture but the non-profit cultural institutions as well. Concept of place is now aesthetic zed not in the sense of beautification but economic problems are presented as susceptible to cultural solution. An example of it is rap music which is aestheticization of street violence is both a cry of terror about quality of life and commercial success as well. From the Landscape of Consumption to Production The current trend of consumption and production are unsustainable and if left unchecked it can lead to social crises. 7(George Ritzer, J. Michael Ryan, 2011) There is growing evidence about awareness in the society about the obscured cost of pursuing the consumer lifestyle. Proponents of this theory believe that each individual consumer can help in reducing the adverse effects of globalization and the resultant consumerism. This ill effect of overconsumption can be treated by changing the way they produce, obtain, use and view resources. Cities and Consumption Pattern of capital investment are determined by relationship between investment, production and consumption. 8(Nancy Kleinewski, 2005). The landscape of economic power is based on the changing patterns of investment. Our society has gained new socio-spatial meaning due to shifts in the cultural meaning of both consumption and production. In most of the modern societies of the advanced industrial societies we have observed a social process of spatial and economic restructuring but the extent is still very minimal. What we observe today is the landscape of consumption taking precedence over landscape of production. Some urban spaces are characterized by extreme consumerism and the consumption practices of the new bourgeois other parts are facing the ever increasing divide between haves and have-nots. Case Study (McDonalization) McDonalization although is rooted in the fast food industry but its implications are not just limited to the cuisine but its far reaching. To start with local motels with the local flair and trend have been replaced by McDonalized chain. Higher education and universities are plagued by the model of McUniversities. Same can be said about political campaigns which are categorized by same polling, media advertisements, banners etc. Hence we can say that McDonalization is not limited to the landscape of consumption but it is occurring across a broad range of social settings. 9(Ulrich Beck, Natan Sznaider, Rainer Winter, 2003) McDonalization is bringing fundamental changes in way people work, consume and interact in a wide variety of setting. Although rationalization which is an important component of McDonalization has been there for a while but with the onset of McDonalization it has given new height to consumer culture both in America and many other countries. McDonalization model is not only a symbol of efficiency but it also reproduces more easily than other models of consumption. It is an important symbol on the landscape of consumption. Conclusion With ever increasing Globalization and capitalism still being the most dominant system I don’t see the landscape of consumption in the civil societies will undergo any major changes. Although as we have already discussed that in some advanced industrial countries the trend is movement towards rural areas in search of less crowded and serene environment. This trend is still negligible and the major and dominant trend is towards urbanization and the mushroom growth of shopping malls, theme malls and even whole commercial cities such as Dubai. I don’t see that in the current scenario cities have the potential of moving from landscape of consumption to landscape of production in the near future. Capitalism marked by consumerism will remain the trend in the near future. Bibliography 1(David McKay, 2009, American politics and society, UK, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing) 9(Ulrich Beck, Natan Sznaider, Rainer Winter, 2003, Global America?: The Cultural Consequences of Globalization, 8(Nancy Kleinewski, 2005, Cities and society, Oxford, Blackwell Publishing) 7(George Ritzer, J. Michael Ryan, 2011, The Concise Encyclopedia of Sociology, UK, Blackwell Publishing) 6(Lineu Castello, 2010 Rethinking the meaning of place: conceiving Place in Architectural Urbanism, UK, Ashgate Publishing) 5(George Ritzer, 2010, Enchanting a Disenchanted world: Continuity and Change in the Cathedrals of Consumption, London, Sage Publications) 4(S. Ratneshwar, David Glen Mick, 2005, Inside Consumption: Consumer motives, goals and desires, New York, Routledge Publications) 3(Neil Brenner, Roger Keil, 2006, The Global Cities Reader, New York, Routledge Publications) 2(Mike Douglass, Kong-Chong ho, 2008, Globalization, the city and civic society in pacific Asia, New York, Routledge Publications) Read More