Specific Development Theories: A Case for Rural-Urban Disparities

In most literature it is particularly argued that the dichotomous basis of urban and rural definitions has many features that state rural areas as existing along a continuum within which individuals, households, communities and institutions distribute themselves. One important character of peri-urban environments is the dynamic nature in which social forms and arrangements are created, modified and discarded (Smit 1989, p.77). Mostly important, there are areas of social compression where the density of social forms, types and meanings increases, fomenting conflict and social evolution. Nevertheless, rural, peri-urban and urban forms a linkage system which is uneven multi-dimensional continuum. It can be highly contested that peri-urban environments are places of social compression and dynamic social change because migration and urbanization peri-urban environments play a mediating role between rural and urban settlements (Smit 1989, p.77).It is suggested that urbanization in developed nations has been attributed to such as urban welfare, regionalization processes and increasing urban population coupled with rural population decline. On the other hand, urbanization in developing nations relate to issues such as rural- urban migration, natural population increase, and rural urbanization (Adell 1999, p.3).