Question 1

One major criticism of the Chicago School's ecological model is that it…

Accepted Answer

The Chicago School's ecological model focuses mainly on the social organization of urban areas, particularly the physical spaces where certain groups of people intersect, and how this impacts crime. However, it underplays the importance of political and economic factors such as government policies and economic inequality that may contribute to the formation of criminal behavior.

Question 2

Urban ecology assumed that "natural forces" and open free market competition caused urban patterns.This view was not viable because…

Accepted Answer

Extensive governmental intervention policies, such as zoning laws and urban renewal programs, have a significant impact on urban patterns and cannot be solely attributed to natural forces or free market competition. Additionally, the role of the biotic sphere, including the influence of biodiversity and ecosystem services, has become increasingly recognized in urban ecology. The other options, urban conflict over imagery and the concentric zone model, are not the main reasons why the assumption of natural forces and free market competition is not viable.

Question 3

The inadequacies of urban ecology were apparent because the continuing poverty and urban riots of the early- and mid-1960s were due to…

Accepted Answer

The continuing poverty and urban riots of the early- and mid-1960s were primarily due to racial and class inequalities, which were not adequately addressed in the field of urban ecology. The other options (A, C, and D) are not directly relevant to these social and economic issues.

Question 4

If you think that social, economic, and political factors shape the growth and development, and the decline and fall of cities, you are taking a/an ________ perspective.

Accepted Answer

The urban political economy perspective views cities as complex systems in which economic, social, and political factors are intertwined and shape each other. This perspective emphasizes the role of power, interests, and conflicts in urban development, and how they produce patterns of growth and decline in different areas of the city. It also acknowledges the wider social and economic context in which cities operate, including global and national trends and policies that influence local dynamics.

Question 5

For urban geographer David Harvey, space is not just a physical phenomenon but also a(n)…

Accepted Answer

Space is not just a physical phenomenon but also a cultural phenomenon, as it is shaped by human activities and interactions.

Question 6

In developing his approach to urban political economy, David Harvey goes beyond symbolic interactionism by…

Accepted Answer

David Harvey's approach to urban political economy goes beyond symbolic interactionism by suggesting that the social construction of symbols is tied to the manipulation of economic and political interests. This means that Harvey recognizes the role of power in shaping cultural interpretations of space and the use of symbols within urban environments. While he acknowledges the importance of cultural interpretations, he does not view symbols as completely independent from economic and political factors. Thus, option C is the best choice.

Question 7

If you were emphasizing the role of profit in shaping the physical form of cities, you would be taking the perspective of…

Accepted Answer

David Harvey is well known for his theory on the “neoliberal city”, in which he argues that profit and capital accumulation are the driving forces behind urban development and shape the physical form of cities. He contends that urban transformations are a product of capitalist market relations and that urban space is subject to market forces, reflecting the interests of those who hold power in the global economy.

Question 8

David Harvey differs from most social scientists in that, in addition to describing and analyzing the built environment, he…

Accepted Answer

David Harvey suggests that social scientists take an advocacy approach, meaning that they should not just analyze the built environment, but actively advocate for positive change and solutions to social problems. This approach differs from the more traditional objective stance of many social scientists.

Question 9

In his research, David Harvey describes the transformation of Baltimore from a(n) ________ city to a(n) ________ city.

Accepted Answer

David Harvey describes the transformation of Baltimore from an industrial city, with a large manufacturing base, to a deindustrialized city that has lost many of its manufacturing jobs.

Question 10

David Harvey calls Baltimore a "developer's utopia," referring to its Inner Harbor renewal, the construction of sports stadiums, and other projects.He reports that compared to 1969, Baltimore now has…

Accepted Answer

David Harvey's characterization of Baltimore as a "developer's utopia" suggests that the city has prioritized large-scale development projects over addressing the needs of its poorer residents. The fact that Baltimore has more vacant and abandoned houses, more homeless individuals, and more working poor than it did in 1969 indicates that these development projects have not led to broad-based economic growth or social welfare improvements.

Question 11

In a neighborhood not far from the Inner Harbor, a young man name Freddie Gray, was a fatal victim of police brutality, and as a result protests, riots, and general clashes with the police occurred.The riots demonstrated that…

Accepted Answer

The occurrence of protests, riots, and clashes with police in response to the police brutality and death of Freddie Gray suggests that there is a lack of engagement with all citizens in the city. The incidents highlight the socio-economic and racial disparities in the area and how important it is for the city to prioritize community engagement and address these issues. A and D are not relevant or accurate choices, and B is incorrect as police brutality and systemic issues are not isolated incidents.

Question 12

There has been a transition in urban sociology from the Chicago School to the ________ School.

Accepted Answer

The transition in urban sociology from the Chicago School has been towards the Los Angeles School, which emphasizes the city's role as a complex, multi-centered metropolis, challenging earlier models that were based on the experiences of cities like Chicago.

Question 13

In spatial terms, Los Angeles is…

Accepted Answer

Los Angeles is known for its economic decentralization, with multiple business districts and economic centers spread throughout the city rather than having a single, highly centralized business district.

Question 14

Urban scholars such as Michael Dear, Mike Davis, and Edward Soja have developed an urban theoretical perspective reflecting a(n) ________ perspective.

Accepted Answer

Michael Dear, Mike Davis, and Edward Soja have all contributed to the urban political economy perspective, which emphasizes the relationship between urban development and capitalist economic systems. This theoretical perspective seeks to understand urbanization as a product of economic and political forces that shape the built environment and social relations within cities.

Question 15

Keno capitalism has led to key urban changes including all but one of the following.Which of the following is NOT one of the changes?

Accepted Answer

Keno capitalism has led to the rise of privatopias, cultures of heteropolis, the city as a theme park, and fortified cities. However, it has not directly led to the development of green cities.

Question 16

If you are driving on a major interstate highway and you notice a nearby cluster of commercial, residential, and retail activity anchored by a regional mall and near the intersection of an urban beltway, you are probably looking at a/an…

Accepted Answer

The description is characteristic of an "edge city," which refers to a concentration of commercial, residential, and retail development typically found outside of traditional downtown areas, often near major highways or beltways. The presence of a regional mall further supports this classification.

Question 17

Urban sociologist Mark Gottdiener disagrees with many assumptions about the distinctiveness of Los Angeles.One of his objections is that…

Accepted Answer

Gottdiener argues that many features commonly associated with Los Angeles, such as edge cities, the city as theme park, deindustrialization, and globalization, are not unique to the city and are found in other urban areas around the world. He believes that too much emphasis on cultural concepts has led to an oversimplification of the complexity and diversity of Los Angeles as a city. Thus, choice E is the best answer.

Question 18

The "new urban sociology" emphasizes the importance of factors such as…

Accepted Answer

The "new urban sociology" encompasses a broad range of factors influencing urban development and change, including government policies, real estate development and speculation, the significance of sign values and symbolic factors in relation to growth and global economics, and the impacts of deindustrialization.

Question 19

Modernization theory is an offshoot of evolutionary theory and of…

Accepted Answer

Modernization theory emphasizes on the benefits of modernization and how it can lead to societal progress. It is closely tied with structural functionalism, which posits that societies are made up of interdependent parts that work together to maintain social order and equilibrium. Therefore, D is the best choice since it connects modernization theory with its theoretical foundation.

Question 20

The theory that views every society as a system made up of subsystems, called institutions, is…

Accepted Answer

Structural functionalism is the theory that views every society as a system made up of subsystems, called institutions, that work together to maintain stability and order.

Quiz 6: Urban Political Economy, the New Urban Sociology, and the Power of Place