ISSN 2736-1586
African Journal of Geography and Regional Planning ISSN 3627-8945 Vol. 5 (2), pp. 001-016, February, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Review
The new urban issue: A journey into the Italian city and its sensitive areas
Mauro Magatti and Monica Martinelli*
Faculty of Sociology, Università Cattolica Milano, Largo Gemelli, 20123 Milano, Italy.
Accepted 11 October, 2017
Abstract
The transformation of the urban horizon shows a heterotropical fragmentation which is a transverse phenomenon. Some parts of the city are showing new combinations of functions and populations: these are simply juxtaposed, with neither contacts nor communications. While some places/populations are losing functions, suffering economic changes and weakening the sociability skills, some others are more widely connected elsewhere. Marginalisation processes may be found all over the city. Old suburbs and new critical areas can be mentioned as ‘sensitive areas’, far beyond their geographical position on the city map. The studies carried out indicate that sensitive areas in the city are very interesting points of view in order to observe and understand the social changes and trends of contemporary development processes.
Key words: Global connections, urban life, dislocation, heterotopical, crisis of sociability, spirals of abandonment.