EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN URBANIZATION AND CRIME RATES

Authors : Hakan Kulak

Pages : 189-223

View : 39 | Download : 46

Publication Date : 2023-12-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The study examined the historical development of cities and at the same time, how urbanization affects crime rates is among the aims of the research. In the study, the concept of the city is mentioned. The historical processes of cities and the elements of being a city are discussed. In addition to these, the reasons for the transformation in the cities were emphasized, and the changes in the urbanization process were evaluated as one of the elements discussed in the study. At the same time, it is stated that cities have changed with the modern period and the definition of city has changed. While cities were evaluated mostly by the number of population and population density in the premodern period, with the modern period, the social and cultural characteristics of the cities are emphasized more, not the population, but they are also characterized as areas where industry is developed and trade is made. Due to these characteristics, cities have started to receive intensive migration from rural areas. Especially with the increase in mechanization, the workforce in rural areas has decreased and rural individuals have become unemployed. After that, individuals living in rural areas migrated to cities in the hope of finding a job and leading a more comfortable life. However, migrant individuals who faced housing problems had to create new spaces for themselves in the cities. Individuals who migrated to the slums had to live under difficult conditions. People who have to reside mostly in slums and depressed areas have started to become prone to crime under these adverse conditions. These places, which are located on the outskirts of cities, are also characterized as places where crime elements occur intensely. When these people, who feel excluded, are separated by the individuals in the city, they come to the breaking point and become more prone to crime. At the same time, the stigmatization of slums and slums by urban individuals has made the separation between individuals within the city evident. As a result, individuals who came to the cities from the countryside have come to the point of being unhappy and restless in the cities, however, they have become lonely in the cities. This separation has made cities complex and chaotic. Cities that took on a complex structure paved the way for the formation of criminal elements. When we look at our country, the situation is similar. It is seen that crime rates are higher especially in big cities and in the surrounding areas of cities. In general, it can be concluded that there is an increase in crime rates with urbanization.
Keywords : Kent, Mekân, Suç, Kent ve Suçluluk İlişkisi, Gecekondu ve Çöküntü Bölgeleri