The Romance of Culture in an Urban Civilisation

Book excerpt: In this book, originally published in 1990, the author presents a general, critical overview of Robert E. Park and the Chicago school of American sociology. Lal concentrates on the contribution that Park and those working within the Chicago school tradition have made to the area of urban race and ethnicity, and suggests how the current thinking among sociologists, anthropologists, social historians, and social geographers might usefully be amalgamated with the ongoing tradition originating with Park at Chicago. This book should be of interest to students and teachers of sociology, urban studies and race relations.