Three Sociological Perspectives on Space and Spatial Problems

Abstract

outside of the concept of urban. Throughout this paper I will discuss three perspectives, not the specific theories of space, but rather three different theoretical orientations, vantage points for viewing space. The Human Ecological Perspective will be the first perspective described because of its historical significance and its continued dominance in Urban Sociology. The Neo-Marxist Political Economic Approach is a more recent perspective. It is just recently that Neo-Marxists are addressing the concept of space, specifically as it is organized in urban settings. The last approach is the most recent and least complete. I refer to it as the Spatial Dialectical Approach. Its roots are the Neo-Marxist Political Economic Approach. However, it attempts to go beyond it in the consideration of the dialectical relationship between space and the fundamental subsystems of social formations. These perspectives will be compared in terms of ten dimensions. We will first begin with comparison of their assumptions regarding human nature and the social order. These assumptions reveal the underlying ideological foundation of each approach. Following this, we will discuss their general understanding of social change, definition of space, role of space in social change, role of the state in spatial change, conception of urban space, conception of social problems, socio/spatial nature of social problems and finally the solutions to social/spatial problems from each perspective. The description of each of these perspectives represent a more of less general depiction or gloss of the school of thought. The reader must recognize that there is a great deal of diversity within each perspective.

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