Sociology Notes for M.A. Semester - IV (Urban & Industrial Sociology)

Directorate of Distance & Online Education

University of Jammu
Self-Learning Material
M.A. Semester - IV
Urban & Industrial Sociology

Course Structure

Course No.: SOC-C-405
Credits: 6
Maximum Marks: 100
Duration of Examination: 3 hrs
Internal Assessment: 20 Marks
External Examination: 80 Marks

Introduction to Sociology of Urban & Industrial Sociology
  • Urbanization and industrialization as significant facets of contemporary life shaping institutions and social structures.
  • The objective is to examine social processes and implications of urban and industrial developments in India.
Syllabus Overview

Unit I

  1. Urban Sociology: Definitions, Concepts, and Urban Planning
  2. Theories of Urbanization

Unit II

  1. Key Theorists: Durkheim, Marx, Weber, and Others

Unit III

  1. Urban Sociology in India: Historical Context and Social Impacts
  2. Urban Problems including Poverty, Crime, and Governance

Unit IV

  1. Industrial Sociology in India: Characteristics and Labour Relations
  2. Issues of Women, Work, and Technology
Key Definitions
  • Urban: Pertaining to city life; varies globally in context and definition.
  • Urbanization: Transformation from rural to urban settings; includes demographic and cultural shifts.
  • Urbanism: Cultural patterns and social interactions within urban settings.
Theories of Urbanization
  • Review seminal theories by Emile Durkheim: social solidarity, anomie, and division of labor.
  • Karl Marx: city as reflective of class relations and economic structures.
  • Weber: contributes the relationship between economic factors and urban growth.
  • Louis Wirth: emotional detachment in the urban environment and urban vs. rural communities.
Historical Context
  • Urbanization processes post-Independence in India.
  • Define statutory towns, census towns, and outgrowths based on population size, employment, and local governance.
Migration and Urban Development
  • Examine rural-urban migration's roles and implications for urbanization.
  • Challenges to urban development such as housing shortages, slums, and economic disparities.
Industrial Sociology
  • Distinct from traditional sociology, focused on industrial settings and employment relationships.
  • Explore social dynamics within organizations: formal and informal sectors.
Challenges and Governance
  • Discuss issues of urban poverty, slum conditions, poor health infrastructure, and crime.
  • Address governance frameworks and the role of local bodies in managing urban challenges.
Urban Culture
  • Examine varying cultural roles of urban spaces across historical contexts, including ritual, administrative, and mercantile cities.
  • Discuss impacts of globalization and postmodernity on urban culture; focus on consumption and commercialism.
Urban Problems
  • Housing: Shortages and conditions of slums and informal settlements.
  • Environment: Urban growth leading to pollution and ecosystem loss.
  • Crime: Relationship between urbanization and crime rates, especially against women.
  • Health: Urbanization's impact on health services and public health challenges.
Further Readings
  1. Ahuja, Ram (1999). Society in India: Concepts, Theories, and Changing Trends. New Delhi: Rawat Publications.
  2. Aldrich, B.C., & Sandhu, R.S. (1995). Housing the Urban Poor: Policy and Practice in Developing Countries. New Delhi: Vistaar Publications.
  3. Castells, Manuel (1977). The Urban Question: A Marxist Approach. London: Arnold.
  4. Durkheim, Emile. The Division of Labor in Society.
  5. Giddens, Anthony (1994). Sociology. Cambridge: Polity Press.