City and Social Integration
Abstract Submissions Closed
RC03 Community Research (host committee)
Language: English
Session Type: Oral
Rapid urbanization, transnational migration, and shifting economic landscapes have transformed contemporary cities into vibrant hubs of cultural diversity, while simultaneously exacerbating deep-seated structural inequalities. As global metropolises grapple with the compounding pressures of gentrification, housing unaffordability, and spatial segregation, the traditional mechanisms of social integration face unprecedented strain. The physical layout of the modern city often mirrors and actively reinforces social fractures along the lines of class, race, gender, ethnicity, and citizenship status.
This session invites sociologists, urban planners, and policy researchers to examine the multifaceted dynamics between urban environments and social integration across different global contexts. We aim to explore how spatial configurations shape community cohesion, civic participation, and collective belonging. Key questions driving this session include: How do marginalized populations navigate and resist segregated urban landscapes? In what ways can public infrastructure, local institutions, and grassroots movements foster meaningful social solidarity? And how are emerging digital divides and smart-city technologies redefining urban connectivity, access, and social exclusion?
We welcome diverse theoretical, empirical, and comparative contributions from across the globe. Potential themes include inclusive urban governance, the intersection of migration and neighborhood change, the sociology of public spaces, and the impact of climate change on urban displacement. By bridging urban sociology with studies of social stratification and public policy, this session aims to foster a critical dialogue on building more equitable, resilient, and integrated cities. We look forward to vibrant discussions that challenge conventional paradigms and offer fresh, actionable insights for both critical sociological theory and contemporary urban practice.