Synekism
 |
This article may be confusing or unclear to readers. (December 2006) |
Synekism[1] is a concept in urban studies coined by Edward Soja and it refers to the dynamic formation of the polis state; the union of several small urban settlements under the rule of a "capital" city (or so-called city-state or urban system). Soja's definition of synekism, mentioned in Writing the city spatially, is "the stimulus of urban agglomeration."
Social science [edit]
From the social sciences' view, it is also a "nucleated and hierarchically nested process of political governance, economic development, social order, and cultural identity" Soja (2000:13-14).
Synekism is related to proximity and the synergy that sometimes transpires when humans share ideas. Synekism also gives rise to the socio-spatial complexity generated between and among actors.
In densely settled urban places, a critical-mass provides potential for innovation that is not typically available in rural environments, therefor synekism can be thought of a the geographical relationships that create and give importance to cities.
Notes [edit]
Further reading [edit]
- Bell, Thomas L.; Muller, Peter O. (March 2003). "Book Review". Annals of the Association of American Geographers 93 (1): 248–250. (A review of Soja's Postmetropolis: Critical Studies of Cities and Regions, ISBN 1-57718-001-1.)
- "Writing the city spatially", City, November, 2003.
