1. Introduction
(1 lecture)
2. THEORIES OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The notion of regional development, indicators for measuring it. The structure of productive sectors in the regions. Differentiations of the regional productive formations. The procedure of regional development. The shaping of regional disparities. Interpreting the phenomenon of unequal geographical development. Rise – fall – rise of regions. Regions tend to converge or diverge?
Theories of self-counterbalancing/development: Theory of Stages, of Interregional trade, of Models of Exporting/economic basis, of Lack/abundance of resources, of Regional dualism, of Sectoral structure.
Theories of imbalance/underdevelopment: Theory of Accumulative causality, of Poles of development, of Dependence – Underdevelopment, of Internal colonialism, of Linking modes of production, of Vicious circles in development, of Labour force-enterprise competition.
(4 lectures)
3. PROGRAMMES – REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICIES
Regional policy: Why it is necessary. Direct and indirect
Regional development programme: What it is, its basic stages
Evaluation of large programmes (e.g. CSF, Olympic Games)
(3 lectures)
4. THE NOTION OF COUNTRYSIDE
Changes in the notion of the countryside. The theoretical approaches for the countryside. Empiric definitions of the countryside. Relations between the city and the countryside and its shifts in the course of time. Policies for the development of the countryside.
(4 lectures)
5. SPATIAL DIMENSION OF THE RESOURCES: RESOURCES – ENERGY – ECOLOGY
resources, natural reserves, energy. The impact of mankind on the environment – today. Exploiting resources. Ecology. Ecological mobilization with a regional dimension.
(2 lectures)
6. THE CITY AND THE PROCESS OF URBANISATION
Definition of the city. Which factors determine the urbanization process. Which preconditions are required in order to achieve considerable urbanization. Why are cities created, what needs do they fulfill, what advantages do they offer. Which factors could limit the size of the city. Is there an ‘optimum’ size for the city. Why certain parts of a city develop and others do not.
The evolution of the city through the years. Classifying the cities. Which conditions led to the appearance of the cities for the first time. Which are the conditions for the growth of the various city types: the pre-industrial city (civil city, commercial city), the industrial city, the post-industrial city, the city at the underdeveloped countries. Historical examples from various countries.
(3 lectures)
7. ORGANISING THE SETTLEMENTS’ NETWORK. RELATIONS, HIERARCHY, EXCHANGES. SETTLEMENT SYSTEMS – CENTRAL PLACES
Functions and relations between the settlements. Hierarchy and classification of the settlements. Distinguishing urban – rural settlements. Boundaries of influence between the settlements. Movements and flows of people, goods and information. Forms of settlements system. Models for describing settlement systems: central place theories, settlements hierarchy – rand size rule, primate city, spatial interrelation – Reilly law, diffusion model. Area of influence, centre-periphery. The diffusion of specialised information, technological innovations and development through the settlements system.
(3 lectures)
8. THE ORGANISATION OF URBAN SPACE – INTERNAL ORGANISATION OF THE CITY
The internal structure of the city: ecological, geographical and economic models for the organisation of the city. Theory of the Homocentric zones, of the sectoral organisation and of the multiple cores. Location, distribution and configuration of activities within the city – zonning system. Distribution of densities. Programmes for the revival of areas.
Urban land market, differentiation of urban land prices. What determines the price of land in urban areas. Which are the factors determining the spatial distribution of residence and of economic and social activities within a city (programmes of urban reformation).
Illegal housing (main residence – holiday house). Causes, consequences.
Total number of lectures: 11 weeks x 2 lectures/week = 22 lectures
The lectures will be given by the tutor, except from the cases when experts on the issue to be discussed will be invited in class. These announcements will be posted at News/Announcements section of the site.
