Preface - New Urban Sociology - The Origins of Urban Life and Urban Sociology - Contemporary Urban Sociology - Urbanization in the United States - Suburbanization, Globalization, and the Emergence of the Polycentric Region - Urbanization in Developed Countries: Europe and Japan - Urbanization and Mega-Regions in the Developing World - Urban Social Problems: Racism, Poverty, Affordable Housing, Crime, and Public Health - Neighborhoods and Communities: Differentiated Groups and Spatial Location in the Metropolitan Region - The Revitalization of the Historic City Center: Gentrification, Theming, and Uneven Development - Metropolitan Planning and Urban Issues - Metropolitan Social Policy - Shifting the Focus to Outcomes: Urban Social Movements and NGOs - Conclusion - Bibliography - Index