urban anthropology

Urban anthropology is the study of cities and the cultural systems, identities, and forces that shape them. While anthropologists have studied urban environments since the 1930s, the term "urban anthropology" gained traction in the early 1960s. Initially, it extended existing anthropological interests in rural populations, applying methods used for small tribes to study specific urban communities like ghettos or ethnic neighborhoods.1

Early research often focused on social problems, particularly poverty, and debated concepts like Oscar Lewis's controversial "culture of poverty" thesis. This led to critical discussions about culture, historical context, and the structural factors contributing to urban inequalities. Urban anthropologists use ethnographic methods, historical analysis, and cross-cultural comparisons to understand the unique social mechanisms and cultural institutions of cities, moving beyond the idea that cities are solely sites of fragmentation. Modern urban anthropology acknowledges the diversity within and between cities, examining issues such as homelessness, social movements, and global processes.12