Gentrification and Urban Development
SOC 248
Spring 2007
| Section:
01
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Under the general heading of "urban renewal," American cities have undergone a wave of efforts to promote new investment into previously poor downtowns. This has resulted in extraordinary changes to the urban economic, cultural, and physical landscape, usually leading to what is commonly called gentrification. In this course, we will examine the phenomenon of gentrification as one of the fundamental social changes currently affecting American society. We will begin with a brief historical sociology of urban development and planning in the United States leading up to the redevelopment and renewal movement in the late 80s and early 90s. From then, the course will examine case studies of the effects of redevelopment over the past two decades and critical arguments about the alleged benefits and evils of the gentrification that tends to come with it. Finally, we will examine a variety of movements made in the name of economic justice and urban ecology to stop, change, or re-imagine the redevelopment process. Although the primary focus will be on the US, we may also consider similar impacts in global cities that have resulted from globalization. |
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Essential Capabilities:
Writing |
| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS SOC |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (ENVS) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Primary authors will include David Harvey, Mike Davis, Jane Jacobs, William Julius Wilson, Douglas Massey and Nancy Denton, Sudhir Venkatesh, and others.
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Examinations and Assignments:
The course will include two 5-6 page papers and a 10-12 page final. |
| Instructor(s): Rabinovitch,Eyal Times: .M.W... 01:10PM-02:30PM; Location: PAC422; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 21 | | SR major: 5 | JR major: 5 | | |
| Seats Available: -3 | GRAD: 0 | SR non-major: 4 | JR non-major: 3 | SO: 4 | FR: X |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 20 | 1st Ranked: 8 | 2nd Ranked: 1 | 3rd Ranked: 4 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 7 |
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