Territorial relationships in the evolution of Italian urban and rural sociology

Sociological analysis has focused over time on some particular issues. Socio-territorial changes have been a permanent topic for the specific research field of urban and rural sociology. The following paper aims to point out the importance of the topic of socio-territorial relationships in the history of urban and rural sociology in Italy, through a brief review of some relevant research. The elaboration of the topic in the first part, is oriented to highlighting the historical transformation of the relationship between cities and villages until the emergence of the metropolitan area and, then, city sprawl. The second aim of the paper is to indicate some relevant recurring issues, with reference to the most recent territorial changes. In the second and last part of this article, attention has been focused on three dimensions; social ties, the nexus between territorial changes and migration processes, and the relationship between urbanization, environmental and health. From this focus, the need for a deeper, empirical study emerges. In particular, field research to study production of urban space and new populations in contemporary socio-territorial formations would appear necessary.

Keywords: Urban and Rural Sociology Territorial Relationships Territorial changes City and Country

Gennaro Avallone, Le relazioni territoriali nella evoluzione della sociologia urbana e rurale italiana in "STORIA URBANA " 135/2012, pp 119-133, DOI: 10.3280/SU2012-135006