Final answer:
Robert Park linked social mobility to structural mobility in his ecological model of Chicago's development, highlighting the systemic societal changes that facilitate large-scale movements within the social hierarchy.
Step-by-step explanation:
In his ecological model of Chicago's growth and development, Robert Park (1926) noted the linkage between social mobility and structural mobility. This concept addresses a societal change that enables a whole group of people to move up or down the class ladder. Park's work underscores the notion that social movements and class dynamics are not merely about individual achievements but often reflect broader systemic shifts that can affect large segments of the population.
The growth of urban centers and the drive for upwards social mobility were closely intertwined with the advent of capitalism and changes in productivity and technology. As people moved to the cities in search of better opportunities and wealth, they engaged with new societal structures that allowed for greater mobility.
This urbanization also led to the development of a push-pull dynamic, where groups such as local governments and individuals like businessmen and activists played critical roles in shaping the urban landscape according to their interests, further affecting social mobility.