After the Second World War a number of sociologists challenged Wirth’s theory. Studying local neighbourhoods within the larger cities, these sociologists discovered communities with strong primary relations among the residents. In Module 5 we will look at examples from India and discuss how kinship and caste based neighbourhoods exist right in the heart of central business districts.

In the 1960s and 70s a number of community studies contradicted the social disorganization thesis of the early Chicago studies. Researchers discovered evidence of vital, healthy primary relations and active community life in urban neighbourhoods.