THERE ARE FEW AREAS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT OFFER SUCH ABUNDANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH AND STUDY AS DOES THE SOUTHWEST. THIS POTENTIAL IS NOT USED DUE TO A LACK OF RESEARCH FUNDING AND A LACK OF INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM WHICH ENCOURAGES RESEARCH. THE PROGRESS OF THE REGION IS HANDICAPPED BY THE LACK OF NEEDED INFORMATION AND DATA. THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTHWEST'S THREE MAJOR CULTURAL GROUPS, ANGLO-AMERICAN, MEXICAN-AMERICAN AND INDIAN, HAS SHOWN MAJOR CONFLICTS AND HOSTILITIES. MODERN PLANNERS HAVE NOT RECOGNIZED THESE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES. COMPETITION BETWEEN URBANIZATION AND INDUSTRIALIZATION FOR LIMITED AND DIMINISHING WATER SUPPLIES AND LACK OF CITY PLANNING ON URBAN PROBLEMS OF ZONING, SLUM FORMATION, STREET PLANNING, EDUCATIONAL NEEDS, AND LACK OF IMPORTANT CULTURAL FACILITIES ARE CITED. THE AUTHOR FEELS THAT THE SOUTHWEST IS A NATURAL SOCIAL LABORATORY IN WHICH THE PROCESSES OF URBANIZATION, ACCULTURATION, ACCOMMODATION, RACE AND CULTURE CONFLICTS, STRATIFICATION, AND SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CHANGE CAN BE EXPLORED. (SF)