There is a widespread assumption that urban cities provide an environment favorable for the development of general freedom. One needs to note that the relevant phenomenon is determined by a number of factors. First of all, one of the distinguishing features of an urban city is its size. Large space is immediately associated with free atmosphere contrary to the limited areas of small towns. Hence, the size of urban cities is a symbol of freedom in itself
Moreover, another critical characteristic of urban cities is the high density of population. On the face of it, the following factor is not connected with the creation of a free environment. Nevertheless, one might assume that intensive crowdedness creates an impression of being imperceptible that allows people behave more freely than they would do in a less populous place.
Lastly, it is the heterogenic environment that contributes largely to the cultivation of the feeling of freedom in the inhabitants of urban cities. Sociologist Puja Mondal notes that the cultural diversity of big cities makes people less dependable on their national and traditional background (Mondal n.d.). As a result, one might suppose that people in urban cities feel less obliged to follow the strict standards of their culture or religion than the inhabitants of smaller communities.
One should necessarily note that the environment of freedom typical of urban cities has some negative consequences for its inhabitants as well. Hence, many specialists agree upon the point that big cities are more liable to various criminal acts than small towns (Paddison 2001). The relevant phenomenon might be explained by the fact that people often tend to associate the notion of freedom with that of permissiveness. As a result, they might choose a criminal line of conduct in the hope that it will remain unnoticed.
Another reason for the development of illegal enterprise in urban cities is the freedom of activity. Hence, big cities offer a vast variety of professional opportunities, while a significant part of them is not ultimately lawful. The citizens of urban cities are, consequently, more susceptible to all sorts of temptations than the inhabitants of small towns that do not have such a spectrum of choice.
Another negative outcome of the freedom’s cultivation is the destruction of the traditional family values that has already become a typical characteristic of urban cities. Thence, the close ties that are present in small communities are considered to be unnecessary in a metropolis. As a rule, the high speed of life, as well as the constantly changing environment, turns out to be inappropriate for a calm and patient manner essential for building durable relationships.
Therefore, the hypothesis stating that “city air makes you free” seems to be valid. On the one hand, all the key characteristics of an urban city have some implications for freedom. The large size of the city, as well as the high density of its population, provides one with a feeling of being free and self-sufficient. The inhabitants of big cities are inclined to think they are no more dependable on the cultural or traditional foundations. Meanwhile, the character of such free environment can hardly be defined as completely positive due to the destructive component it possesses. Although the initial aim of the majority of those who moves to urban cities is the potential freedom, a large part of these people feels dissatisfied as soon as they reach it.
Reference List
Mondal, P n.d, 20 Important Characteristics of Urban Community, 2016, Web.
Paddison, R 2001, Handbook of Urban Studies, SAGE, London.