Synekism
Encyclopedia
Synekism is a concept in urban studies coined by Edward Soja
. 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."
' 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.
In densely settled urban places, a critical-mass potential for innovation exists that is not typically available in rural environments.
It is the geography that creates and gives importance to cities.
Edward Soja
Edward William Soja is a postmodern political geographer and urban planner on the faculty at UCLA, where he is Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning, and the London School of Economics. He has a Ph.D. from Syracuse University...
. It refers to the dynamic formation of the polis
Polis
Polis , plural poleis , literally means city in Greek. It could also mean citizenship and body of citizens. In modern historiography "polis" is normally used to indicate the ancient Greek city-states, like Classical Athens and its contemporaries, so polis is often translated as "city-state."The...
state - the union of several small urban settlements under the rule of a "capital" city (or so-called city-state
City-state
A city-state is an independent or autonomous entity whose territory consists of a city which is not administered as a part of another local government.-Historical city-states:...
or urban system). Soja's definition of synekism, mentioned in Writing the city spatially, is "the stimulus of urban agglomeration."
Social science
From the social sciencesSocial sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial 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.
In densely settled urban places, a critical-mass potential for innovation exists that is not typically available in rural environments.
It is the geography that creates and gives importance to cities.
Further reading
(A review of Soja's Postmetropolis: Critical Studies of Cities and Regions, ISBN 1-57718-001-1.)- "Writing the city spatially", City, November, 2003.