Synekism

Synekism is a concept in urban studies coined by Edward Soja. It refers to the dynamic formation of the polis state - the union of several small urban settlements under the rule of a "capital" city (or so-called city-state or urban system). Soja's definition of synekism, mentioned in "Writing the city spatially", is "the stimulus of urban agglomeration."

ocial science

From the social sciences' view, it is also a "nucleated and hierarchically nested process of political governance, economic development, social order, and cultural identity" Soja (2000:13-14). Synekism is related to proximity and the synergy that sometimes transpires when humans share ideas. In densely settled urban places, a critical-mass potential for innovation exists that is not typically available in rural environments. It is the geography that creates and gives importance to cities.

Further reading

*cite journal|quotes=|last=Bell|first=Thomas L.|authorlink=|coauthors=Muller, Peter O.|year=2003|month=March|title=Book Review|journal=Annals of the Association of American Geographers|volume=93|issue=1|pages=248–250|id=ISSN|0004-5608|url=|accessdate=2006-12-02 (A review of Soja's "Postmetropolis: Critical Studies of Cities and Regions", ISBN 1-57718-001-1.)

* [http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/routledg/ccit/2003/00000007/00000003/art00003 "Writing the city spatially"] , "City", November, 2003.