Hello,
As I am new to this list, I thought the following would be as good
an introduction as anything I might say offhandedly, about myself and my
interests. Here's to it finding and striking a chord with other individuals
working with or interested in these questions.
Regards,
Mark Whitaker
University of Wisconsin-Madison
LIST ADVERTIZEMENT: COMPURB-L (List for Comparative Urbanization from
Theoretical and Applied Perspectives)
COMPURB-L is devoted to the developing of interest and the sharing
of information on something which has been basically a crucible of
human/environmental history for the past 10,000 years--the effects of
urbanization. There are popular lists devoted to world history, urban
history, and philosophy of history already. Why then a separate list devoted
to comparative urbanization? Because COMPURB-L list members simply wish to
focus more attention upon the urban form. Firstly, its political economy,
structural and cultural changes, issues of governance, social movements,
environmental relationships--all are seen as a fruitful methodology for an
historical and sociological study which overlaps many disciplines. This can
simultaneously provide insight into our past and our present experience.
Secondly, comparative study can help to formulate a much more rigorous model
for 'comparative urban studies.' As many I am sure are aware, what has
passed for 'comparative' and 'international' in scope in the literature was
typically an exploration into 'European' urbanization, or the process of
capitalization.
I foresee three major threads being stitched together in this list:
the historical, the sociological, and the philosophical.
The historical component would deal with developmental issues of urbanization.
What are the effects on human cultures comparatively speaking as they undergo
urbanization? What are the environmental effects of urbanization? Are they
the same for urban cultures worldwide, in all epochs? What differences in
the particulars of urbanization, if compared, would elucidate the role of
different factors in the overall process?
The sociological component has been explored extensively in urban sociology,
especially within the past 20 years, yet it has not been utilized as a
comparative methodology in a structural and spatial sense.
Other component disciplines which I anticipate can donate (and take)
much from looking at comparative urbanization studies are: economics,
political sociology, urban and regional planning, anthropology,
environmental history, ecology, world history, philosophy of history,
environmental sociology, the sociology of economic change, cultural studies,
the history of technology, and nomadic studies. Anyone interested in the
comparative government policy of urban sites or comparative urban planning
please join as well.
Though I have established this list with a scholarly and theoretical/applied
intent, by no means is that tacitly discouraging those interested in other
questions to avoid querying for information or supplying their viewpoints.
That is the point of the list. If we can't handle critique or information
'outside accustomed channels,' there is something wrong. Comparative studies
are advanced through interdisciplinary attention, and the list depends upon
those of diverse backgrounds contributing their special share to develop a
useful framework of study. The point of the list is the discussion of the
value of what should go into this comparative framework: what heuristics
can enlighten urban study? The sharing of information and the weighing of
its utility are going to go hand in hand.
Though the list is to be a forum for exchange for theoretical and applied
issues dealing with the urban form, historical process, and social
organization, the urban form is only the organizational point for dealing
with the wider effects of social structure in discussing human interaction
and ideological and tangible cultural production processes in history. (How
we process the urban site culturally, and how the urban site processes and
qualifies our repertoire of activities, associations, life paths, and
creative action is my particular interest.). Especially, I invite and
appreciate anyone interested in 'nomadic' peoples to join this group and
keep us from making any urban specific generalizations which are unwarranted.
A website will be maintained, mostly for the sorting of a bibliography
compiled through the participants suggestions of what they find useful in
discussing comparative urbanization issues, or what they feel will expand
the reach of such studies which have yet to occur.
Over the past few months, this list has become a major router for conference
announcements and potential funding sources dealing with urban issues.
Occasionally, it has book reviews forwarded as well. If you have any
additional information related to these areas, the list would be an ideal
way to notify a wide public from many different backgrounds with an interest
in urban issues.
I would encourage one to avoid considering that 'this is where it is all
at.' As I am sure many members of multiple lists realize, the cross-links
are where it's 'at,' instead of a particular list, and cross-linkages tend
to have a difficult (or silent) airing. This is not because a particular
discipline is parochially inclined. It is just that the list (and I would
argue socialization in general) is not *designed* to *do* such things.
There's seldom found a listserv intentionally dedicated to not a particular
discipline which examines multiple questions, but to a set of disciplines
which examine the same question. COMPURB-L is the place which encourages
this, a place where one can share these cross-linkages with an appreciative
audience who are already interested in the same process of complementary
discovery from the start instead of having to 'work uphill.' So if you see
fruitful connections between the disciplines on the issues which could be
grouped around comparative urbanization, or if you would be interested in
'representing' your discipline and learning other perspectives, please join.
Subscribers to multiple lists are especially encouraged to join: it will
only make the potential discourse richer for us all. COMPURB-L is what we
will bring to it.
If you choose not to join, please do your associates a favor and pass this
message along to them if they are interested.
--------------------------------------------------------
To subscribe, address e-mail to [log in to unmask] with the words
'subscribe compurb-l' followed by your e-mail address. The name of the list
is in lowercase intentionally. If you are having problems subscribing,
please contact me and I will see how I can help.
Thank you.
Mark Whitaker
University of Wisconsin-Madison
list-owner for COMPURB-L
[log in to unmask]
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