A Geographical Analysis of Urban Ruralization in Al-Baghdadi City

Abstract

  This study examines one of the problems faced by Iraqi cities in general, including the city of Al-Baghdadi. Through field surveys conducted in the study area, the research sought to identify the causes behind the emergence of this phenomenon, which affects the urban community. A questionnaire was distributed to a sample of residents to investigate customs, traditions, and certain behaviors that have become alien to urban society—behaviors transferred by newcomers to the city and subsequently inherited by later generations. This situation has been particularly evident following the city’s expansion due to population growth, whether through natural increase or migration. The first section of the study discusses the key concepts related to the research and the factors that contributed to the presence of this phenomenon. The second section explores the manifestations of urban ruralization and its impacts on the city. "The diffusion of social customs and traditions has played a pivotal role in the emergence and intensification of this phenomenon. This expansion has been largely driven by the significant population increase, which in turn has facilitated the transfer of numerous rural practices—most notably the spread of informal settlements, the predominance of unplanned urban development, and the persistence of tribal structures within the social fabric. The study produced several tables and graphs, in addition to conclusions and recommendations that we hope will attract the attention of specialists. The findings also revealed the sources of imbalance in the city, whether due to urban violations or other underlying causes that have aggravated this phenomenon