Student’s Name

Professor’s Name

Course

DateUnique Urban Environment

Introduction

The urban environment is a compact and highly populated geographical unit with improved social and physical environment and developed resource infrastructure (Ompad et al.). It is a modern society with a high level of environmental concern and is generalized (Berenguer et al.). It is different from small towns due to the diversity characteristic, high population, and more significant in size. The attributes encourage relationships among people and diminish cultures. Democracy, individualism, and instrumentalism promote freedom in the urban environment.

Attributes of Urban Environment

High density is the common characteristic of an urban environment. This is because most people tend to move to urban areas in search of economic opportunities. Also, the urban environment has developed infrastructure. (Bobylev et al.) states, “Physical infrastructure is one major asset of a city in terms of capital investment and critical service provision”. This statement shows the developed facilities, which attract more people to live in the areas hence leading to a high population. Due to the integration of people from different regions, the place is characterized by extreme diversity due to cultural differences and functional diversity. Urban areas are characterized by residents from a range of ethnic backgrounds (Harries et al.). People originate from various regions and converge in urban areas, therefore, fail to have similar cultures

Effect on Human Relations and Cultures

“The niche of a population is determined by the interaction between their culture and environment” (Albarella). Therefore, the urban environment influences the culture of individuals and human relations due to the availability of many ethnic groups in one place. Urban areas are multi-cultural and heterogeneous due to the high population. This fact leads to diminishing individual cultures, originating from interactions and relationships that give home identity and sense of community (Kaymaz). People tend to drop some cultural activities to fit into urban society.

Infrastructure in the urban environment encourages social integration and human relations. With the continuing increase in population, newcomers keep getting into the cities and are accommodated due to the accepted diversity. The facilities become a means for more interactions to occur; hence the relationship among humans is improved. However, the high population creates the chaotic character of the urban environment, which is caused by competition for resources and space (Wirth).

Mechanisms Enhancing Freedom

(Claval) states that “In everyday life, the way people are settled shapes their use of freedom”. According to Claval, high density in urban centers enhances freedom due to a broader range of choices of occupation and social roles. A lot of activities characterize urban areas; hence people have common tasks that should be performed. These roles enhance freedom among people, socialize, and deliver many other businesses within the community. Also, cities encourage democracy rather than dictatorship; hence individuals are free to make their choices and decisions. Since there are no strict cultures in an urban environment, there are no restrictions on certain activities, thus freedom to implement many decisions.

Individualism and instrumentalism enhance freedom in an urban community. Individualism encourages freedom of choice, personal responsibility, and respect for others and universality (Realo et al.). Therefore, individualism encourages people to have free choices minding other people’s wellbeing. Also, due to improved infrastructure, there is freedom of mobility in that people can move from one place to another (Sager). This is enhanced by the availability of resources in the environment.

Conclusion

The urban environment is characterized by a developed infrastructure, diversity, and a high population. The high population is because of the improved infrastructure and a lot of opportunities in the centers. These characteristics lead to a decrease in the cultural activities of individuals and more human relations. Urbanization, democracy, and individualism encourage freedom in urban centers than in the rural setup. More opportunities enhance freedom among people.

Works Cited

 Albarella, Umberto. Environmental Archaeology. Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2001.

Berenguer, Jaime et al. “Rural-Urban Differences In Environmental Concern, Attitudes, And Actions”. European Journal Of Psychological Assessment, vol 21, no. 2, 2005, pp. 128-138. Hogrefe Publishing Group, doi:10.1027/1015-5759.21.2.128. Accessed 28 Jan 2020.

Bobylev, N., & Jefferson, I. (2014). INTEGRATION OF URBAN PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE INTO LAND USE GOVERNANCE. 10.13140/2.1.1563.3603.

Claval, Paul. “Urban Space And Freedom”. International Political Science Review, vol 5, no. 2, 1984, pp. 147-160. SAGE Publications, doi:10.1177/019251218400500206.

Ompad, Danielle C. et al. “Urbanicity, Urbanization, And The Urban Environment”. Macrosocial Determinants Of Population Health, 2007, pp. 53-69. Springer New York, doi:10.1007/978-0-387-70812-6_3. Accessed 28 Jan 2020.

Harries, Bethan et al. “Diversity In Place: Narrations Of Diversity In An Ethnically Mixed, Urban Area”. Journal Of Ethnic And Migration Studies, vol 45, no. 17, 2018, pp. 3225-3242. Informa UK Limited, doi:10.1080/1369183x.2018.1480998. Accessed 28 Jan 2020.

Kaymaz, Isil. “Urban Landscapes And Identity”. Advances In Landscape Architecture, 2013. Intech, doi:10.5772/55754. Accessed 28 Jan 2020.

Realo, Anu et al. “Three Components Of Individualism”. European Journal Of Personality, vol 16, no. 3, 2002, pp. 163-184. Wiley, doi:10.1002/per.437. Accessed 28 Jan 2020.

Sager, Tore. “Freedom As Mobility: Implications Of The Distinction Between Actual And Potential Travelling”. Mobilities, vol 1, no. 3, 2006, pp. 465-488. Informa UK Limited, doi:10.1080/17450100600902420. Accessed 28 Jan 2020.

Wirth, Louis. “Urbanism As A Way Of Life”. American Journal Of Sociology, vol 44, no. 1, 1938, pp. 1-24. University Of Chicago Press, doi:10.1086/217913.