The Structural Theory of Urban Society

Abstract

The sociological study of urban society has been increasingly diversifying its focus of interests under the pressure of changing social situations. Along this trend, it may be unavoidable that the systematic presentation of “the structural theory of urban society” has almost been neglected. capitalism The first reason for the neglect is sought in traditional studies of Japanese as a main subject of social science in Japan. Urban studies, especially the structural studies of urban society have often been overlooked in this field. Now it is required for us to analyse the nrban social structure in relation to modern capitalism in Japan. In this essay, we will examine an urban theory presented by Minoru Shimazaki who represents an approach with the view mentioned above.The second reason for the neglect is sought in proper urban studies which have been made by urban sociologists under the influence of modern American sociology. Many of those sociologists have been weak in the view to the whole structure of urban society and society as a whole. It is only after 1955 that Japanese sociologists have turned their interests to the structural theory of urban society. Yet it will take more time before they attain to the full systematization and the wide consensus about the conceptual framework of the structural theory of urban society. Here we will examine the theory of social structure developed by Eitaro Suzuki who presented a relatively systematic conceptual framework.We must confront several difficult problems in order to construct the structural theory of Japanese urban society at the cross-road of the two approaches developed by Shimazaki and Suzuki. One is the lack of fruitful criticisms between those two approaches concerning their conceptual frameworks and theoretical orientations. The other is the vague understanding of problems of social relation and social group in both approaches which should be included in the theory of social structure. We conclude that the remaining problem for the theory of social structure will be to find a point of contact with the theories of social relation and social group which should take proper position within the framework of social structure.