The World of Cities is a concise theoretical and empirical introduction to urban sociology.

In clear and engaging terms, the book surveys and critiques all the major theoretical perspectives in urban studies.

• Provides a concise introduction to urban sociology.
• Uses clear and engaging terms.
• Surveys the main theoretical models of urban studies.
• Includes empirical data on contemporary cities and neighborhoods, and the impact of the world economy on city life.
• Features a discussion of the current reconstructive efforts of educational, political, and business leaders to improve cities and maintain their civic culture.

Anthony M. Orum is Professor of Sociology and Political Science at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is the author of City-Building in America (1995) and Introduction to Political Sociology (fourth edition, 2000), co-editor of The Case for the Case Study (with Joe Feagin and Gideon Sjoberg, 1991) and co-author of Changing Societies (with John Johnstone and Stephanie Riger, 1999).

Xiangming Chen is Associate Professor of Sociology at University of Illinois at Chicago and Research Fellow with the IC2 Institute at the University of Texas at Austin. He is interested in the comparative study of cities in the global context, with a primary focus on China and East Asia. He has published numerous articles on urban studies and is the author of the forthcoming As Borders Crumble (2004) and the principal editor of the forthcoming Global Aspirations, Local Actions (2004).