This sub-field examines the role that social movements play in shaping the political, social, and cultural landscape of cities.
Urbanization: The process of growth and development of cities and their socio-economic implications.
Social stratification within urban communities: The division of urban populations into class, race, gender, and other social categories that affect the opportunities and resources available to various groups.
Social disorganization: The breakdown of social order in urban areas due to factors such as poverty, inequality, and crime, and its impact on urban social movements.
Gentrification: The process of urban renewal and revival that often displaces lower-income residents, and how it intersects with social movements advocating for affordable housing and community rights.
Environmental justice: The ways in which environmental issues such as pollution and climate change disproportionately affect marginalized urban communities, and the social movements that aim to address these issues.
Race relations in urban areas: How race and racism impact urban social movements and the struggle for social justice.
Social movements and collective action: Theories and models of social movement formation and organization, including the role of leadership, networks, and mobilization strategies.
Political economy: The relationship between economic systems, political power, and urban social movements.
Transnational social movements: How urban social movements engage globally and the impact of globalization on urban social movements.
Culture and identity: The role of culture, identity, and representation in urban social movements, including the use of art and media to promote social change.
Environmental Justice Movement: The Environmental Justice Movement is a social movement that fights for the fair distribution of environmental goods and harms in cities. The movement seeks to redress environmental inequality, where low-income communities and communities of color bear a disproportionate burden of environmental pollution and degradation.
Gentrification Movements: Gentrification movements are social movements that resist gentrification, which is the displacement of low-income residents and businesses by wealthier residents and businesses. The movement seeks to preserve the cultural and social diversity of neighborhoods, and to ensure that all residents have a voice in the decision-making process around urban development.
Labor Movements: Labor movements are social movements that advocate for workers' rights, such as higher wages, better working conditions, and collective bargaining rights. These movements seek to empower workers and protect them from exploitation by employers.
Housing Movements: Housing movements are social movements that fight for access to affordable and decent housing for all residents, particularly low-income residents who are often marginalized in the housing market.
Community Development Movements: Community development movements are social movements that empower local communities to develop solutions to their own problems. These movements are often grassroots in nature and seek to strengthen communities by building capacity, engaging residents in decision-making, and promoting community-led development initiatives.
Transportation Movements: Transportation movements are social movements that advocate for sustainable and equitable transportation policies and infrastructure. These movements seek to reduce reliance on cars, promote alternative modes of transportation, and ensure that all residents have access to safe, affordable, and reliable transportation options.
Police Accountability Movements: Police accountability movements are social movements that seek to hold police accountable for their actions and advocate for systemic changes in policing practices. These movements seek to address issues of racial profiling, police brutality, and excessive use of force, and promote community-led approaches to public safety.
Education Movements: Education movements are social movements that advocate for equitable access to education and high-quality education for all students, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background.
Health Equity Movements: Health equity movements are social movements that address health disparities and advocate for equitable access to healthcare and healthy environments. These movements seek to promote population health by addressing social determinants of health, such as poverty, racism, and environmental degradation.
LGBTQ+ Rights Movements: LGBTQ+ rights movements are social movements that advocate for the rights and protections of LGBTQ+ individuals, including marriage equality, anti-discrimination laws, and access to healthcare. These movements seek to promote societal inclusion and acceptance of all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.