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Discusses urban development from a global perspective, highlighting the growth of megacities around the world & their interrelationships within the context of increasing globalization. Issues raised by such development for traditional urban theory in sociology are addressed, & the growth (& decline) of the international political economy & world-systems approaches to studying urbanization are traced. Contemporary research focuses on the position of cities in the hierarchical global system, one dominated by the logic of competitive capitalism. Of particular interest are cities in developing countries; peripheral/dependent urban development is discussed. The characteristics & role of new global/world cities in the international system are described, utilizing social network analysis to define their relationship to each other & within the global hierarchy. 95 References. K. Hyatt Stewart

Discusses urban development from a global perspective, highlighting the growth of megacities around the world & their interrelationships within the context of increasing globalization. Issues raised by such development for traditional urban theory in sociology are addressed, & the growth (& decline) of the international political economy & world-systems approaches to studying urbanization are traced. Contemporary research focuses on the position of cities in the hierarchical global system, one dominated by the logic of competitive capitalism. Of particular interest are cities in developing countries; peripheral/dependent urban development is discussed. The characteristics & role of new global/world cities in the international system are described, utilizing social network analysis to define their relationship to each other & within the global hierarchy. 95 References. K. Hyatt Stewart

Der Autor gibt einen Überblick über das Projekt "Stadtentwicklung in Preußen (1815-1939)". Das Projekt geht von der These aus, daß die wichtigen Wandlungen, die in der Entwicklung zur modernen Industriegesellschaft aufgetreten sind, von den Städten ausgingen. In seinem Überblick konzentriert sich der Autor im wesentlichen auf die Quellen, das Datenmaterial und die Darstellung der Analysetechniken. Als Quellen werden die Unterlagen der verschiedenen Volkszählungen herangezogen, wobei Grenzveränderungen und Veränderungen in den Erhebungen die Auswertung erschweren. An diese Darstellung schließt sich eine Beschreibung der Datenbasis und der Datenverarbeitung an. Einige Ergebnisse werden in Tabellen vorgestellt. (BG)

Presents a summary of research on city & empire growth/decline & uses intersocietal regions as the unit of analysis to examine the relationship between urban growth & the rise/fall of empire. Changes in urban populations, city-size distributions, & territorial sizes of states & empires are examined in six regions that once contained substantially separate world-systems: Mesopotamia, Egypt, West Asia, South Asia, East Asia, & Europe. The results showed significant positive medium-run temporal associations between city sizes & empire sizes in Europe & West Asia, as well as a small positive relationship in Mesopotamia, & very small correlations in South Asia, Egypt, & East Asia. Another finding was the nonzero sum nature of the relationships between the largest & second largest cities and empires in Egypt, Mesopotamia, East Asia, West Asia, & Europe. There was not enough data on second largest cities/empires for South Asia. It is pointed out that the results are necessarily inclusive due to the incomplete nature of the data. The need for improved data sets is emphasized. Tables, Figures, References. J. Lindroth

Ernest Gellner's theory of nationalism (1983) is placed in the context of his modernization theory, which is then critiqued. Gellner's functionalist argument links nationalism to industrialization & urbanization by way of the political needs for stability that he argued can only be met in a culturally homogeneous context. The application of this theory to European cases undermines this functionalist logic with historical examples of cultural differentiation at the heart of the nations that developed. Gellner's position is reminiscent of the position of those involved in the modernizing project within Europe around the turn of the 20th century, when the question of homogeneity was a troubling one. 52 References. H. von Rautenfeld

Focuses on the paradox of city growth as the information age alters knowledge creation from one of spatial relationships to decentralized information networks. Three points of analysis are considered as partial answers to the paradox. Evidence indicates metropolitan areas continue to grow despite advances in technology. The wealth generative capacity of metropolitan areas will contribute to the emergence of a new geography or global city that is actually a network of metropolitan nodes. Consequences of urban concentration are identified as ecological & social crisis that are bringing about the reconstruction of the city through social & women's movements, & new multinuclear structures. The author concludes with the suggestion that the future success of cities depends on a "hyper-communicated city" that reaches to the local, global levels by building bridges of communication through symbolic, virtual & physical channels. References. J. Harwell

The author poses the question of whether or not cities can establish a sustainable relationship with the planet. Asserting that the historical evolution of large cities & the questions of waste generation, soil exhaustion & redistribution of resources indicates the need for a new look at urban system functions & ecological footprint, the author offers the solution that cities need to mimic natural ecosystems. A case study of the metabolism of London indicates the need to conceptualize the city as super-organism that is a circular metabolism that results in mutual benefit. A new definition of a sustainable city is presented that would be inclusive of alternative fuels. References. J. Harwell

The working-class Mexican residents have played a conflicted role in the constant growth & restructuring of Los Angeles' urban environment because they have been simultaneously at the geographic center & on the economic outskirts. Their labor has been essential to the city's growth while their homes & neighborhoods have often occupied land needed for development. They have struggled to protect themselves against the undesirable side effects of urban growth, as the overwhelming forces of capitalist urbanization have repeatedly threatened the vulnerable barrio. 62 References. A. Funderburg

The chapter discusses Pakistan's energy needs, which are exceeding its pace of development, urbanization, & population growth. Pakistan's energy problems are also bound up in geopolitical concerns, since the country is dependent on other, mostly unstable Middle Eastern & Central Asian states for gas & oil. The article examines the increasing energy demand in Pakistan in terms of domestic institutional constraints, regional development projects, & geopolitical implications not just for Pakistan but also for South & Central Asia. 6 Tables. K. Coddon

Explores the governing institutions of New England as impediments to enhanced regional integration & economic development. Elements of New England politics & institutions are distinguished by political party competitiveness, historical urbanization & dominance of governing political machines, & dominance of the municipal government. Specific conditions for each state -- Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, & Rhode Island -- are highlighted. A history of attempts to form regional organizations across the states is surveyed, & economic & political factors that push toward & against regional integration are analyzed. 6 Tables, 9 References. L. Collins Leigh

Changes in the contemporary world materialized in particular through population growth and mobility, urbanization, and economic expansion also result in an increased exposure of people and assets to extreme events and impose, implicitly, adequate management of induced risks. The occurrence of natural and anthropogenic risk phenomena, known as hazards, puts a heavy tribute on disaster-sensitive human communities regardless of their level of development. The magnitude of the disasters and their increasing frequency and severity imply the need for their approach by the entire world community and for global action. Knowledge of risks becomes a sine qua condition in carrying out impact studies, risk prevention plans, spatial planning plans, and, in general, a condition for effective management of natural resources or sustainable development projects.

The issue of whether a state & national identity is replacing a transnational Arab state & national identity in Syria is addressed. Several factors (eg, economic crises) actually reduced the influence of Arab ideology in Syria during the 1980s. Further homogenization of a Syrian national identity is attributed to the increased support for a capitalist economy under the direction of the state during the late 1980s & the nation's current economic liberalization program. Moreover, increased urbanization & the tendency for children of the ruling elite to intermarry across sectarian lines are indicative of the nation's movement toward a Syrian national identity. Nevertheless, an Arab state & national identity remain predominant in Syria. Syria's foreign relations with Israel & Lebanon are examined to determine whether identity affects foreign policy. The study's implications for future research are also considered. J. W. Parker

Problems engendered by globalization processes that could cause mass death on an international scale are examined. The need to realize that historical periods of industrialization have caused significant hardships for the peasant classes is stressed. After discussing the connection between population growth, modernization, & urbanization, it is contended that various factors, eg, gender inequity, must be addressed to reduce population growth. Additional associations between industrialization processes & (1) migration trends & (2) energy resource usage are considered. It is contended that the current rates in population growth, energy consumption, & decrease in land resources & certain environmental constraints could potentially create an insurmountable obstacle for the market-oriented international community. Several issues that the international community must address to help humankind persevere are raised, eg, determining whether social control over production processes will augment national solidarity. J. W. Parker