Innovation, Communication Networks and Urban Milieus: A Sociological Approach

The vast majority of the more recent analyses of innovation processes have recognised the importance of social factors in both the creation and spatial diffusion of innovation. In most cases however, this recognition does not significantly affect the nature of the analysis itself. At most, the social variables are treated as generic elements of the differentiation between urban contexts, and are seen as factors resulting from historic processes, explaining a greater or lesser propensity to innovation by the populations of different cities or regions. There are a number of reasons for this, but the most significant appears to be the rigidity of approach typical of the disciplines concerned with the innovation phenomenon and the barrier that this has created to a more satisfactory interdisciplinary effort.