Some Problems on the Relationship between the Urbanization and the Local Group.

Abstract

There are generally two views on the relationship between the urbanization and the local group one is the “classic” view which is represented by Louis Wirth's urbanism theory : it emphasizes the fact of decline or destruction of the local group accompany with the progress of urbanization, the other is the view mainely insisted by some Japanese Urban Sociologists : they are speptic for urban progress and point that in the various actual conditions, “pre-modern” local group is still existing and living upon. I think we, recognizing the later, must notice the bud of more productive and progressive elements. In Japanese cities, so called as “premodern cities, ” urbanization and modernization progress not always parallelly and that forms the originality of Japanese cities. I place the conception of urbanization on the dimention of space, and point out the differentiation of group's function as the main index of it. And also, I place the conception of modernization on the dimension of time, and point out the progress from the “collectivism” to the “indivisualism” as the main index of it.In this thesis I intend to study several theory types and regard them as work hypothesis of exploring the actual urban local groups by mutual act of urbanization and modernization. As an example I compared Funabashi City, statellic city of Tokyo, with some local middle or small cities.Main types of the local group's theory and their explanation are as following.I “Tradition-type” local group.“Tradition-type” local groups are mainely formed of local middle or small cities which are cities in legal but not cities in sociology. These cities are mostly primary local community and basing on the traditions, have the compulsion to all inhabitants. They sometimes provide the daily or material life of dwellers and restrain them as “murahachibu”. The models of these local groups are observed in middle or small city which have weak basises of industrial construction, as Shimada City or Yonezawa City.II “Conflicting-type” local group.With the progress of urbanization, tradition-type is destroyed by degrees and new type of local group is formed for it. In the new type cities, modernization- establishment of individual subjectivity and spontaneity-is so uncomplate that these cities reverse or are intending to reverse to near the old type. We named this type “Conflicting-type” local group. We can see this type in many local groups of Japanese cities.III “Independent-type” local groupWith the progress of urbanization and modernization, individuals become to be beyond old local groups control, They create or join for themselves the formal or informal group, that is “Independent-type” local group. Generally modern community has two characteristics : (a) free joining and defection, esteeming initiative of individuals' own, (b) having a limited objective function. “Independent-type” local group seems to have these two conditions, so we can call it one of the modern communities. In Funabashi City which is our example city, we regarded the local group of this type, for example, Mitahama women's Society, Hanawa Women's Society, Shinwa Women's Society, Funabashi Western Women's Society Nobara Group, Wakakusa Group etc.In these circle it is not the bread-winner of family but the younger wives that have initiativity in their groups. I think this fact present many interest problems to the future study of urban locol group.