Civic sociology is the study and application of sociology to improve local communities. It focuses on social investment rather than just financial returns, cooperatives for local services and businesses, and civic regionalism through public spaces for community engagement and integrating universities with surrounding areas. One proposal is a housing cooperative in Exeter for postgraduates, teachers, and others to provide transitional and lifelong housing while contributing to the local community through shared spaces, social programs, and civic involvement.

1. What is Civic
Sociology?

2. What is Sociology?
The Study of Society?

3. ‘Think Global,
Act Local’
Patrick Geddes
Scottish Sociologist
(1854-1932)

4. Civics as Applied Sociology
1. Social Credit – investment on social rather than financial grounds
2. Cooperatives – banks, building societies, consumer associations, etc.
3. Civic Regionalism – ‘conservative surgery’
a) Public space – meetings and civic activity
b) ‘University militant’ – integration of universities and
communities

5. Proposal One: Alternative
Greater Exeter Strategic Plan
Exeter & Region to 2040

6. Proposal Two: Town & Gown
Housing Co-operative
Ramsay Gardens, Edinburgh, 1893Fore Street/South Street/West Quarter
• Postgraduates & Early Career
Researchers
• Teachers
• Not Typical Student Housing:
• All-year long
• Transitional – toward
settlement
• Town & Gown Community Spaces
• Social Entrepreneurship
• Lifelong Learning
• Civic Regionalism
• Engagement with existing Fore
Street Traders’ Association
• Consumer Cooperatives, potentially
with Exeter Pound

7. Civic Sociology

8. Interested?
Email: e.lybeck@
exeter.ac.uk