Cities and networks in Europe

A critical approach of polycentrism

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ISBN : 978-2-7420-0677-9
Printed in: English
Publication date: 01/06/2007

The aim of this book is to look at the dominant representations that at present underpin the issues of territorial organisation and planning in Europe. Cities and networks are often envisaged as inevitably driving territorial development. However, the conceptualisation of European territorial integration has often been reduced to two conventional models: the centre-periphery model and the hierarchical model of urban networks. Limiting territorial integration to these two schema means that integration is limited.
Today, reference to polycentric territorial development has to some extent changed the picture. Rather than being viewed in a polarised, pyramidal manner, spatial dynamics are being read in terms of interconnection and reticulation. In addition, reflection on the subject of polycentric territorial strategies has encouraged politicians and spatial planners to include the principle of “territorial cohesion” in the priorities of European public policies.
From considerations which associate conceptual approaches and analytical studies, this book makes it possible to understand in what manner polycentrism, viewed as an alternative to metropolisation, could sow the seeds for new readings, at various scales, of the organisation of European territory.
CONTENTS:
I. Evaluating polycentrism:
Is polycentrism effective
to strengthening territorial cohesion?
Delineating urban territories. Is this
a relevant issue? The urban typologies and the construction of polycentric spatial perspectives: The example of the Atlantic area Towards an improved understanding of urban profiles and polycentric development potentials: Reflections on espon 1.1.1 Innovation and polycentrism in the Mediterranean Latin arc European polycentrism: Towards a more efficient and/or a more equitable development?
II. Polycentrism:
What is behind the concept?
Polycentricity: Panacea or pipedream? Polycentrism, equity and social cohesion in Europe The ideo-centricity of urban poly-centricity Polycentricity, equity
and competitiveness: The Dutch case Brussels: Polycentricity as “images
on the map”, not in reality Networking Italy. Polycentrism and networks
in Italian regional policies
III. Networking: What potential
for the polycentrism?
Cities as nodes of research networks
in Europe Students mobility, gender and polycentrism in Europe
The network of transnational cooperation programmes in North West Europe
and in the Atlantic area Integrating
the European space flows and places
n North West European city-region networks Why Hawaii and the Azores are an adequate representation
of polycentrism?
IV. Polycentrism: A view point
from experiences outside Europe
Territorial development and polycentrism made in USA: Between the logic of the market and a federal organization National versus regional and inter¬national networking in the Arab world East Asia: An example of regional integration via networks and flows