The Disintegration of Traditional Bonds and the Reshaping of Family Values under Urban Expansion in Algeria

Abstract

This study addresses the profound structural transformations within the Algerian social fabric and the repercussions of rapid urban expansion on family stability through a sociological approach that explores the interaction between physical space and value-based practices. It aims to analyze how the transition from traditional housing to modern residential patterns affects the nature of intergenerational relationships and their reflection on the values of solidarity and privacy, with a focus on spatial factors leading to the disintegration of the extended family and the restructuring of roles within the nuclear family.
The findings of the study revealed that urban transformations have produced a complex social reality, contributing to the reinforcement of individual independence and the improvement of housing conditions, while simultaneously leading to the decline of traditional family support networks and the growing sense of isolation within modern neighborhoods. This, in turn, confirmed the importance of integrating the social dimension into urban policies in a manner that contributes to achieving a balance between the requirements of modernity and the preservation of solidarity ties, as well as ensuring a stable family environment within the context of current urban transformations.