Disunity in urban villages

The complex rural to urban transitions occurring in suburban communities in the Global South are creating a sense of social disunity, and contributing to the lack of individual cooperation already present in many urban villages. The rapid influx of "transients" seeking to succeed in the city creates strained relationships with "permanent" residents; and the attendant high population density, combined with the absence of public facilities like a community centre or town square, is also a contributory factor. The spirit of cooperation that existed in rural life is replaced by isolating individualism that works against the progress of the community as well as the well-being of its individual inhabitants. The physical poverty in such communities, where so many compete for so few jobs, so few rooms, and so few school places, further contributes to this disunity.