Urbanisation
The process by which a growing population of people live in cities and towns.
What percentage of the world’s population lived in cities in 2007 compared to 1900?
- 50% in 2007
- 13% in 1900
What is the population of a city?
Roughly a population of over 100,000 people.
What is the population of a mega city?
Roughly a population of over 10 million people.
How many mega cities were there in 1950?
- Only 2
- New York and Tokyo
How many mega cities were there in 2014?
28
How many people lived in cities in Britain in 1800 compared to 1900?
- 20% in 1800
- 74% in 1900
What do cities in third world countries tend to be like?
- Cities tend to be bigger and fewer.
- This is often a primate city, much larger than any other city in the county.
What is an example of Urbanisation not being accompanied by industrialization?
City dwellers often make a living from informal sector work rather than being employed in the formal sector.
Marxist perspective on Urbanisation
The poor in the growing western cities of the 19c formed the proletariat, working in factories and workshops and often organised trade unions.
Modernisation theorist perspective on Urbanisation
- looking back on the model of development, they see the growth of cities as an essential part of economic growth.
- Cities provided a labour force concentrated in one place for factories.
- They’re also important in promoting cultural change because they remove people from the countryside, where traditional ways are the strongest, and expose them to western values.
Dependency theorist perspective on Urbanisation
- Colonialism has made it impossible for developing countries to follow in the footsteps of the developed world.
- Urbanisation in developing countries today is different because it’s not a response to industrialization.
